Hometown: Saint Joseph, MO
Majors: Film and Media Studies Major, Business Minor, University Honors Program
Internship title and organization: Communications Intern for Alpha Tau Omega National Fraternity
What were your responsibilities during your internship?
I worked with the Communications team to set up an aesthetically pleasing Awards Banquet for our 140+ chapters. Some of my responsibilities were to create the background graphic panels for presentations, set up walk-ons slides and synchronized music for keynote speakers, and animate logos for each collegiate chapter receiving an award.
What was your favorite part(s) of the internship?
Working with the communications department, and really the entire staff was perhaps my favorite part of the experience. It was like being accepted into a larger family where everyone was so driven to make positive change in the lives of men they hardly even knew. Even during some of the hardest days when I struggled with a project, there would be someone there to help push me towards success. Every single person I met in that office, most of them only one to three years older than myself, was motivated, dedicated, and displayed a fervency like no other.
What did you gain from the experience that will be valuable to you in the future?
I came into the internship looking to harness more experience with the technical “hard skills” of film and media such as working behind the camera. However, I left with a plethora of both hard and soft skills I had not anticipated. I started off with a proficiency in Photoshop and left with a profound knowledge of Illustrator. The degree of networking I experienced was far greater than my 4 years of college combined. And, I learned how to work in a team where every individual is key to the overall success of the organization.
Why did you choose your majors/minors?
I’ve always had a passion for storytelling and how stories affect us and provoke emotion. It’s a very special moment: inciting feelings or being inspired by someone else.
What do you plan to do next?
I am pursuing a fifth year at KU in hopes of gaining even more from the Film and Media department. So far, the time has been very rewarding, and there are many more courses I am excited to learn from. Hopefully, after that, I’ll join the ATO National Staff as a full time member of the Communications Team.
What do you like best about studying in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at KU?
The people. Honestly, just being around such passionate students and teachers has really given me energy to pursue my dreams. I’ve received a lot out of my college experience, and the people here have helped me learn not only about the topics we cover in class, but also about myself.
What would you tell your freshman self?
Start looking into opportunities earlier! It never hurts to just ask around or seek more information on something that piques your interest.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
My biggest inspiration is my younger brother, Jacob. He’s always pushed on no matter what obstacles stand in his way, and he doesn’t look at anything as a disadvantage. His obstacles become challenges, and challenges become feats of accomplishment. I have to say, he’s one hell of a kid.