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By Zoë Daffinson, College of Arts and Sciences

As a college student, I am used to professors stressing the importance of internships. My professors at USF — some of whom have served on hiring committees — all claim that students with internship experience have a significantly higher chance of getting hired.

"These internships were an invaluable experience that helped me figure out what kind of career I would like to pursue in the future."

As a philosophy major, there aren’t many resources when it comes to finding out how your major connects to the job market besides pursuing academia. I struggled to figure out what kind of internships to look for. I wanted to find a balance between my interests in both philosophy and mass communications. 
 
I found an unpaid marketing internship over the summer, which was a great opportunity to gain some experience. I wanted to find another internship before graduating but wanted it to be paid. Being compensated for my work would give me a reason to spend time working while in school. It would also make me feel more valued by my employer. 
 
The Mellon Humanities Internship Program was the perfect opportunity for me. Supported by the Mellon Foundation, the program provides USF students majoring or minoring in the humanities with meaningful work experience through paid internships and career development workshops. 
 
When I learned the program offers the opportunity to get paid for my work as an intern while receiving credit, I signed up immediately and went on Handshake to look at the internships that were offered for the fall semester.  
 
Soon, I had secured two internships: one right here at ×îÐÂÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ in the College of Arts and Sciences’ (CAS) Office of Communications and Marketing and the other as the lead intern for ’s Emerging Professionals program. 
 
The best part about the Mellon Humanities Internship program for me is that it enabled me to renegotiate my school-work-life balance.  
 
Both of my internships offered unique experiences. At CAS I learned how to interview, write, edit and create content. I was able to write three different articles that were published on CAS’ newsletter and gathered content throughout the semester that I compiled into a video that will be shared on CAS’ social media. 
 
At Homegrown Hillsborough, I strengthened my leadership skills, deepened my understanding of food systems and contributed to a mission I genuinely believe in. I helped plan and do outreach for their first annual conference, where I will also serve as a panel moderator.

Working as an intern is a completely different experience than learning about these fields in a classroom. These internships were an invaluable experience that helped me figure out what kind of career I would like to pursue in the future. 
 
Besides all of the practical aspects of the internships, I have genuinely had fun working for both of them! I got to meet so many people on and off campus as well as go to fun events like the USF Botanical Garden’s Fall Plant Festival and the Agrarian Club’s farmer’s market. 
 
I love that each student can tailor their own internship experience to their own wants and needs. There are a wide range of opportunities that can go with many different majors and minors, and students are able to complete up to three internships per semester. 
 
I am so thankful for the opportunity to gain this much experience during my undergraduate years, and I plan to continue the program in the spring. 
 
If you’re a student who’s unsure about where your major can take you, especially if you’re in the humanities, I can’t recommend the Mellon Humanities Internship Program enough. It gave me confidence, experience and a real sense of direction.