Blog: My senior year arts internship at IU
Editor's note: Sara Schulte is an Indiana University senior majoring in journalism with a focus on public relations and minoring in French and business. She is currently working as an arts intern at the IU Office of University Communications. Her duties include writing articles for the Live at IU newsletter, conducting interviews with current IU faculty, staff and students and profiling interesting alums about how their current success relates to their IU experience. Here, Sara shares her arts internship experiences so far.
When I thought about my senior year, I envisioned a more relaxed yet interesting course load, enjoying everything about the bubble I live in as an IU student -- and of course, plenty of memorable moments with my friends. I planned on finding a part-time job as I have the past two years while on campus. I figured it was time to do something other than work at the gym or be a server -- time to focus on something more relevant to my future.
There seemed to be plenty of internship options on campus -- unpaid. There was absolutely no way I was going to work for free after a semester in Europe followed by a summer interning in Chicago without pay. The perfect opportunity was sent my way by Marcia Debnam (career advisor in the school of journalism), who told me about IU Office of Communications internships. Not only would it make my parents happy, but it paid!
The positions open were the arts intern and the SPEA intern, neither of which I knew that much about, but both of which I was very interested in.
I came in for an interview during welcome week before classes had started; turns out I was supposed to come in the following Wednesday. Needless to say, I already felt like I was off to a rocky start. I felt fairly prepared and comfortable during the interview -- until I needed to write something down and realized that I did not bring anything to write on or write with. Finally, to top it off, I had brought a copy of my resume which at this point, I had awkwardly stuffed into my purse for lack of a better option. If only I was as interview-savvy as those Kelley students. Somehow I walked away feeling pretty good about getting the internship, especially after my now-boss Jen complimented my outfit (at least I had one thing going for me!).
So, I became the arts intern -- it must've been the fashion connection with Jen. I was still a bit nervous about covering a beat I wasn't quite as familiar with, but I was excited to finally get to do things I had always wanted but never had time to do in my three years at IU.
In the few weeks I've been here, I have been exposed to an eclectic selection of the arts. We are getting more involved with the apparel merchandising program, which has led to upcoming interviews with IU alums out in the fashion world. I've interviewed Iris Rosa, an accomplished, worldly and respected dance professor.
I went to see the beautiful La Traviata, the opera, on campus at the Musical Arts Center. This next sentence may bring out my art "dorkiness", but so be it: I have been begging my parents for tickets to an opera in the city (Chicago) for at least the past five Christmases. Instead, I wound up taking my mom to an opera here at IU.
We were especially interested in La Traviata because it takes place in and around Paris -- a city my mom and I both love. She minored in French in college, and I studied abroad in the South of France last spring. Many of the songs I recognized from a sort of "best of" CD my mom brought me back from the opera house in Vienna. We also seemed to think that La Traviata is the same opera that Julia Roberts and Richard Gere see in Pretty Woman. That may or may not be true, but just like Julia, I felt the emotional tidal wave at the end of the piece.
Last week I went on a "Grand Tour" with IU Art Museum curator Jenny McComas. While touring an art exhibit may not be most college seniors' idea of a good time, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. Jenny's exhibition was an inside look at how tourism and travel influenced art from the mid-18th century to the early-20th century. After studying abroad, my curiosity and passion for travel has only grown. It was so interesting to look at this newfound love from a different, historical angle. Everything I'm doing here seems to somehow have a personal connection.
There are still days where I feel entirely too busy, especially compared to classmates who tell me how amazing their daily naps are. My wonderful boss, aware of my feelings, recently gave me the opportunity to lighten my load and make my internship at the IU Office of Communications only one semester. When I read the email, I thought for a while. My last semester at IU could consist of only nine credit hours and being a PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) officer. Then I realized not only how bored I would be, not to mention even more strapped for cash, but that I actually like my job.
So my senior year isn't quite what I daydreamed about during those homesick-days abroad. Instead of being a bit less involved on campus, I feel more involved than I have ever been. Although it took a little adjusting, I am starting to enjoy my sometimes long days and hectic schedule. I now spend the first few days of the week attempting to be super productive and efficient, and I live for my weekends. When Thursday rolls around, I can't wait to go out with my friends and feel like an IU senior again. I feel as if I am getting the best of both worlds -- like my Dad always says of his Northwestern days, I work hard during the week and play hard on the weekends.
Now I just have to find time to figure out life after IU!
