Opinion: Leave Logan for the summer
The summer is ways away but making plans for it begins now. Leaving Logan for the summer to do an internship or study abroad can be a once-in-a-life-time opportunity.
Internships are a great way to apply skills learned thus far in your education and to see if you career path is the one meant for you. According to Indeed, the number one reason to do an internship is to test industry knowledge. Classroom settings are limited to show what you have learned in the real world, and internships allow you to do that in a committed setting.
On-campus jobs can be good ways to learn through the year such as departmental jobs or tutoring, but internships over the summer allow you to dedicate all your time and energy into your career and personal skills. There are many internships in Logan through the university and locally, but those may not be in your best interest.
Forbes states that paid internships follow with a job offer 60% of the time. Getting an internship isn’t just about experience but a foot in the door at the company. Working as an intern with the company gives you references from within, makes employers want to keep you on to reduce training, and they have already seen your ability to succeed. Internships could be in Salt Lake City or could be in New York City. The options of travel are limitless, and the opportunity to see if those areas work well with you are irreplaceable.
Another benefit is credit. Certain majors require internship experience or a study abroad, in which can be transferred for credit. Specific criteria must be met but getting credit for a paid job is an amazing opportunity.
Getting credit while living abroad is also an amazing opportunity. The Office of Global Engagement at Utah State University says the university has partnerships with, “over 150 universities, in over 85 countries, and many USU faculty-led programs, students can go just about anywhere and study anything, regardless of language skills.”
Aria Ward, an information systems major at USU, was recently accepted into USU Spain study abroad.
“Studying abroad is a great idea because you can experience new languages and cultures and get a new perspective,” Ward said. “No matter where you go or set out to do you will learn something new. Taking classes while living in Spain with in-state tuition is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Studying abroad can strengthen linguistic skills for students, allowing them to learn languages in an immersive environment.
”Getting experience in a second language is beneficial for future careers, especially when communicating with native speakers,” Ward said.
Utah State University has many resources for students to find the internships. USU Career Design Center has career coaches available, will check resumes/cover letters for students, and is located on campus at the University Inn.
The university also has a direct pathway to Handshake, which connects your USU account and saves you time from filling out basic information. It shows updates on career fairs and has internships available to apply to.
While the work of moving out of Logan can seem daunting, the benefit and experience of leaving are great and are opportunities no Aggie should miss.
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Sara Prettyman is a Maryland-born-and-raised sophomore majoring in applied mathematics. She loves drawing, running and reading.
— A02342348@usu.edu