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Internships–How This Requirement Can Actually Transform Your Future By: Annabelle Smallwood

It is typical for students to come into college and go through the motions to accomplish what needs to be done in order to graduate.


For many students, classes, chapel credits and other necessary components of a degree plan all become obligations. There often is not a sense of desire to accomplish these things, but instead it becomes an obligation.


Many degrees here at Hardin-Simmons University have a specific component that students must complete–an internship. Even though this could seem like another obligation that must be completed in order to walk the stage, internships are actually much more than that. I completed my internship last semester, and here was my experience:

Let me take you back to when I was in high school. I was completely unsure about what I wanted to do with my life. I thought I wanted to go into nursing, but I learned fairly quickly that it was not for me. I wanted something with creativity, and I wanted a degree that was broad enough that I would not be stuck with little opportunity.


I decided to major in strategic communications, but I was still unsure about what I was going to do with my life. I knew in my head that God had a plan, even if I could not see what the next few years would hold, but I was not sure if I truly believed that He did.


Once I began my sophomore year of college, I was told by my advisor that I would need an internship in order to graduate. That really stressed me out because I still had no clue what I wanted to do. He told me about a few different internship opportunities, but he connected me with the News Director at KTAB and KRBC News. I thought there was no way that I would be able to get an internship there, but I decided to try.


I heard back from the News Director and was able to get the internship. I went into my internship with no knowledge about the news station and yet walked out of my internship feeling confident that journalism was exactly what I wanted to do after graduation.


As my internship was coming to an end, I was offered a position at the news station to stay as an employee. I accepted eagerly and have spent the entire spring semester at KTAB. I am a college student that is not studying journalism, but I am able to work at my dream job before I even graduate because of my internship.


If you are currently looking at internships, do not underestimate how important this is for your future. It is exciting and there is so much to learn. I also have many friends who have internships that they love.


Hardin-Simmons is amazing about connecting you to the right internship for your career. Even if you are not required to have an internship, I encourage you to seek one out. An internship could benefit your future more than you expect.


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