Semester-Long Internship Q&A with Dance Seniors

The dance team lines up at basketball blastoff.

BEVERLY, Mass. - The semester-long internship is one of the essential pieces of Endicott's experiential learning model which includes two 120-hour internships, a semester-long internship, and senior thesis. In essence, it gets undergraduate students career ready with a loaded resume geared towards whatever their postgraduate endeavors may be.

Six of the members of the Class of 2018 for the Gulls dance program - while balancing strength and conditioning programming, captains practices, official team practice, and the start to their 2017-18 campaign - have all completed their semester-long internship. These exceptional student-athletes - Danielle Chabot (Worcester, Mass.), Katelyn Sweetland (Granby, Conn.), and Julia Wholey (Billerica, Mass.) - gave us an insight into their experience working in their desired professions through our new question and answer series. 

Danielle Chabot at her internship site Danielle Chabot
Hospitality Management

Semester-Long Internship: Infinite Event Concepts
Previous Internships: 

What inspired you to pursue an internship at this organization or what inspired you to go into the specific industry in which you are working?

I was inspired to work for Christie Bellany at Infinite Event Concepts because I wanted to learn the ins-and-outs of owning my own event planning company like Christie does. I wanted to study Event Management at Endicott to learn how to plan important meaningful events and because I aspired to one day open my own dance competition. Infinite Event Concepts has helped broaden my knowledge and experience in event management and entrepreneurship so that one day I can own a successful dance competition or event company.

What were some of your most meaningful experiences on the job and what did you learn?

The most meaningful experiences I had during my internship were planning and executing two non-profit events. I am extremely passionate about non-profit organizations and was able to plan an event for the Salem Animal Rescue League and Boston Children's Hospital.

How did your internship help clarify your postgraduate career pursuits?

My semester-long internship helped me clarify that I do want to work in the Hospitality industry. My internship has also helped me network with numerous Hospitality professionals. This internship has confirmed that there are so many paths I can take within Hospitality. After graduation, I hope to be working as a Marketing and Events Director. Before owning my own company I want to work for a large corporation so I am able to connect and meet as many people in the Hospitality industry as possible.

What advice would you give students that are either just starting the internship program at Endicott or students that will be going on semester-long internship?

My advice for students just starting the internship program at Endicott would be to have all three internships be as broad as possible. Having three diverse internships on your resume is a great way to show future employers the amount of experience you have within your industry. This also gives you the opportunity to discover the career path you want to take. For students that will be going into their semester-long internship I would suggest interning with a company they aspire to work for after graduation.



Katelyn Sweetland Katelyn Sweetland
Hospitality Management

Semester-Long Internship: Willowdale Estate, Special Event Intern
Previous Internships: 

What inspired you to pursue an internship at this organization or what inspired you to go into the specific industry in which you are working?

Since 7th grade, I knew I wanted to eventually become an event planner, dealing mostly with weddings and other special events. I just love the ability to take an idea and thought and turn it into the happiest day of someone's life. Making people happy is the most satisfying outcome. Willowdale Estate was the ideal internship because they are really hands on and make each experience something to learn from. They give you the opportunity to take on important roles and make independent decisions.

What were some of your most meaningful experiences on the job and what did you learn?

The most meaningful experiences have to be when I was given my own event and being given the opportunity to be independent. Being able to take the beginning details of an event and turn it into a final product and see the outcome felt amazing. Each wedding it has also been a meaningful experience when I am left to do projects on my own and are trusted to run the staff and the bride and groom acknowledge me as a professional. Having the bride and groom come up to your during their wedding and compliment how it is going or trusting you with a question really just establishes that you are doing the right thing.

How did your internship help clarify your postgraduate career pursuits?

My internship has definitely confirmed that special events and weddings are where I want to be post-graduation. There is nothing that has changed my mind other than making me love weddings and planning even more than before. I hopefully see myself working at an events place or working for an event planner.

What advice would you give students that are either just starting the internship program at Endicott or students that will be going on semester-long internship?

I would say take every possible opportunity but know your limits. Everything you do is a learning experience whether it is in the field you want or not. It is important to remember that it is not your full-time job but it will help you in the future. I have learned so much from every opportunity and without it I would not be where I am today.



Julia Wholey Julia Wholey
Marketing

Semester-Long Internship: CGPR, Public Relations, Supervisor is Senior Account Executive, Charlotte Daher de Garcia
Previous Internships: 

What inspired you to pursue an internship at this organization or what inspired you to go into the specific industry in which you are working?

I had taken the Public Relations course at Endicott and did a project in which I needed to interview someone about a day in the life of a public relations pro. Our group had interviewed Kristen Bujold at CGPR and that was when I became interested in PR. She gave me her card and when it came time to apply to internships I looked more into the agency and the kind of work they did and it seemed interesting enough to explore as an option, and now here I am.

What were some of your most meaningful experiences on the job and what did you learn?

I go to sit in on a lot of client calls, as that's how we did most of our meeting and to see the interaction between agency and company was really interesting. One of the best experiences I had was getting to plan my own media event. It was a media dinner for our trade show client, Outdoor Retailer, who recently moved their popular show to Denver because of political reasons. I created the media list, compiled the RSVPs, and was the main contact for the event location and luckily all went smoothly and it was a very successful event.

How did your internship help clarify your postgraduate career pursuits?

My internship definitely helped me realize I wanted to explore the PR industry a bit more, but it also helped me realize what parts of PR I like and what parts I don't so that when I eventually start the job hunt I know what to look for in an agency.

What advice would you give students that are either just starting the internship program at Endicott or students that will be going on semester-long internship?

The best advice I can give is to communicate with your supervisors and anyone else at your company that has experience in the industry you think you might want to work in. Don't be afraid to ask questions and don't be afraid to take on projects you may seem uncomfortable with at the time, you have people to help you and it's all part of the process.


The Endicott Experience feature aims to highlight the entirety of the student-athletes' experiential learning journey throughout their academic careers. The student-athlete at Endicott is afforded the same opportunities as the general student population at the College as it relates to internships, study abroad, and postgraduate career pursuits. This philosophy mirrors the mission statement of the College which every student is encouraged to take intellectual risks, pursue scholarly and creative interests, contribute to the community, and explore diverse career paths. Read more Endicott Experience features by navigating the links below.   

INTERNSHIP: Fall 2015 | 2014-15 Internships Fall 2016 Semester-Long | Gulls "Learn By Doing" On Winter Break | 442 Student-Athletes Complete Internships During 2016-17 Academic Year

STUDY ABROAD: Studying Abroad as a Student-Athlete at Endicott | James Dwyer Focuses on Opportunities Abroad in Switzerland with Les Roches Global Hospitality | Endicott Student-Athletes Study Abroad in Asia | Holly Erbe Studies Abroad in London, Paris, Amsterdam | Andrea Courtemanche Gains New Perspectives Through Study Abroad Trip | 

ACADEMICS: Emily Sharpe and Eric Owens Balance STEM and Sport at Endicott | Kendra Walters, Creating Her Own Happiness Through Art at Endicott

CAREER OUTCOMES: Internships Lead To Career Outcomes | 2015 Graduates Find Immediate Success in Job Market

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