When you’re in the classroom there is only so much you can be taught. Getting an internship allows you to see your classroom lessons in action. Some schools mandate their students have a certain amount of internship credits in order to graduate. They aren’t a be-all-to-end-all, but having one gives you necessary experience and, more importantly, the connections necessary to find a job after graduating.
As a disclaimer, my first internship was in High School. This does not make me an over-achiever however, nor did it prepare me the way I’m being prepared now. I’m a Journalism student and in High School I was being introduced to proper writing and methods of storytelling. I was wrapped up in searching for my dream school, trying to pass pre-calc and planning for Prom. That being said, when I went to the Long Island Press each day after school they told what exactly what to do and most likely prayed I did it well.
Hofstra Journalism students must take three credits of internship in order to graduate. I dreamed of interning for Newsday because that was the paper on my table every morning. My Summer going into Junior year I applied for an internship there and an internship at the Long Island Herald. I started at the Long Island Herald a week after my last final.
