My best friend once said to me, “You’re always just doing something,” and honestly, I think that’s part of the reason I’ve loved FSU so much. I was always doing something, trying out every field that called my name.
Since my freshman year in 2023, I’ve tried my best to get my money’s worth out of this school, and I’ve always encouraged my friends to do the same. If I saw an application and thought I could potentially enjoy this, I’d immediately apply. There’s no harm in trying, and who knows, you could find your true calling.
FSU creates thousands of opportunities for its students. Departments will send out emails for internships, Nole Network houses more job applications than one can count, and there’s always a career, internship, or club fair being advertised.
In my time here, I accidentally made it my mission to apply to anything that sparked my interest, and it’s honestly the best decision I’ve made.
FSU Shadow
FSU posts all of its shadowing opportunities on Nole Network. They come in cycles for Fall, Spring, and Summer, with companies all across the nation. The application is usually just a resume and basic information, with decisions coming out not too long after. This is why I applied to a multitude of companies, because the more times your name is in the pot, the more likely it is to be picked, right?
One semester, I shadowed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service because I was considering studying ecology. Then, I saw what they did every day, and as much as I respected the employees, I learned it wasn’t for me. We went out to the coast and looked at the animal nests and ocean patterns they study, taking their big trucks all around town.
Another semester, I shadowed ESPN. It wasn’t like my other experience; instead, it was a Zoom meeting where we heard from different members of the industry. They showed us just how much happens behind the scenes of sports media.
Both of these opportunities introduced me to information I’d never known, and that’s why I always returned. I didn’t want to land on a career without at least exploring every other option, and thank goodness FSU Shadow gives students the ability to do just that.
Internship and Employment Experiences
I interned with FSU English’s Museum of Everyday Writing a year ago, running their Instagram throughout the semester. I then got an internship with Seminole Sports Marketing this year, helping run events for FSU athletics. Two very, very different internship experiences, but each was beneficial for its own reasons.
Both of these opportunities were discovered in very different places. The Museum of Everyday Writing was in an email, and the Seminole Sports Marketing was buried on their website. Having to find these allowed me to explore every nook and cranny of FSU-based communication.
I kept an eye on my email, looking for the terms “internship” or “interview.” I scrolled to the career sections of any website, leaving no stone unturned when it came to something I may like to pursue. FSU has many publicly available resources, but sometimes you have to go out and search for what you really want.
My employment while attending FSU has been a little different. I’ve worked with FSU Coaches Video, FSView & Florida Flambeau, and the 1851 Starbucks. Again, I found all these applications in different places. Coaches Video was on Nole Network, FSView was on Instagram, and Starbucks was through a connection I had.
Being at FSU has shown me the power of putting your foot in the door. It’s taught me just how much you can gain from an experience you aren’t sure you’ll enjoy, and just how much more you’ll be offered if you dig a little deeper into every potential opportunity.
Classes
In reflecting on my time at FSU, I’m realizing how diverse the range of classes I’ve taken is. When I first arrived here, my mind was set on biology. As I took chemistry though, I realized that life wasn’t for me. I was stumped, wondering where to go. So, I opened the course guide and took a semester of random classes to figure out what I liked.
As an English major, I’ve taken Forensic Science, Tennis, Introduction to Underwater Investigation, Introduction to Documentary Filmmaking in London, and Real Estate. FSU offers so many opportunities to go outside your comfort zone and take that class that you’re unsure if you’ll like.
There are courses offered for every interest, including dance, law, scuba diving, and psychology. For every major and minor on campus, there are classes open to every student. Some do have college-based locks on them, but most don’t.
The school has these classes and professors to teach them, and I recommend snagging every opportunity you have to take a class you just “might” be interested in. Just be sure to double-check the Rate My Professor before committing to 15 weeks.
Have fun!
Everyone says it, and they mean it. College is about learning who you are and what you want. You may not leave with a full 100-year plan, but you can leave with an incredible network of people, thousands of memories, and a stronger sense of self than you had in high school.
FSU is built on community. The football games, tanning on Landis Green, the Westcott Fountain tradition, each of these is here for students to connect, and I recommend trying. I was never the best at putting myself out there, but looking around during the senior toast and recognizing groups of people was a crazy experience. FSU goes out of its way to create networking opportunities, and my biggest piece of advice is to try everything.
It’s scary to leave your comfort zone, to apply to something, and to expect rejection, but the more you reach out and try, the more you step out of your box, the more things that will come your way. At least, that’s what I learned in my three years at Florida State.
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