This is a series dedicated to highlighting the insights our students gained during their internships.

Name: Emina Tatarevic, Department of Art & Art History 
Internship:  Emerging Leaders Ambassador for the CFA in 2017-2018

What responsibilities did you have as an intern? What new skills/knowledge did you gain from your internship?

I had a few different responsibilities in this role. I wrote for the CFA's The Finer Points blog and I worked various CFA and university-wide events. The biggest part of my internship was working directly with my coordinator, Jenn McLaurin, to update the college’s major sheets. For my internship project, I pitched a system of linked Microsoft Excel documents that would streamline editing, locating, and seamlessly utilizing these forms to aid students in navigating their education. This modernization project challenged me in unexpected ways as it called for technical skills and area-specific knowledge I didn’t possess. It was a great opportunity to be creative with a new medium while learning practical skills.

What connections did you make and how do you think those connections may help you in your career?

In writing for The Finer Points blog, I met and interviewed students outside of my college. This challenged me to be unafraid and outgoing. Additionally, I made important connections with faculty and staff throughout the CFA, some of which I ended up asking to be my recommenders on grad school applications. This internship helped me foster relationships with people I may not have otherwise even known and I feel like the experience of doing it before will help me to do it again and again in grad school and in my career.

What advice would you give other students who are interested in a similar internship?

If you’re interested, do it! You don’t know how much you can learn until you have the experience. College is more than your classes and this is a way for you to have experiences you can draw from when pursuing jobs beyond college or in applying to graduate programs.

How did your internship compliment your arts education?

I was an Art History major so this internship gave me an opportunity to learn skills I wasn’t exposed to in my major classes.