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Internships promote interactive learning

Ana Martin

Opinions editor

Education cannot be confined to the classroom. The theoretical and the tangible inevitably interact as students strive to increase their knowledge. A prime example of this connection between the structure and observation of academia and the direct application of ideas in the workplace can be seen in the popularity of internships among the Shorter student body. Over the summer, several of the university’s students took part in comprehensive internship programs that related to their respective fields of study.

Mack Parnell, a senior history and political science major, worked with the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. Senior Haylee Hunt, a communication major, worked with J103 radio station in Chattanooga, while senior biology major Ben Alverson interned with the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta. All three students spoke well of their summer internship experiences.

In fact, for Hunt the opportunity to work with J 103 had a particularly personal significance since, as she put it, “I had listened to J 103 since I was a child.” However, both Parnell and Alverson found their programs through connections in the Shorter community.

Though the students admitted to facing challenges and new concepts, their internships ultimately helped each of them get a better idea of what they want to do with their futures. Alverson notes that his work and research from this summer impacted his outlook in more ways than one, saying, “It told me I want to do something in healthcare,” and also “it showed me how important it is to keep up with your health.”

Furthermore, after analyzing and reflecting upon their experiences, all three students say they would adamantly recommend to their peers doing a summer internship as a way of supplementing and enhancing one’s college experience. Parnell said, “I encourage [students] to broaden their interests and look outside of Shorter…kind of like a study abroad.”