This summer I completed two internships and earned $20,000 within two months. I want to share my experiences as an intern not to brag off my achievements but in hopes of inspiring other GSU students to know that anything is possible.
I interned with Chevrolet, filming commercials and productions as an on-air personality. I was the first GSU student to be selected for this program.
I also interned for The Dow Jones News Fund with Shelterforce Magazine. This highly competitive program had not selected a GSU student in several years. Yes, I did two full-time internships at the same time. It was very challenging but I got through it!
Most recently, I was selected to intern at CBS-KNOE in Monroe this semester.
Prior to the summer I had a vast amount of media experience, from working with Disney and Coca-Cola, to interviewing Sen. Kamala Harris and while leading The Gramblinite.
However, this summer I believe I truly identified my passion for storytelling.
I was one of six HBCU students awarded a $10,000 scholarship and $5,000 stipend from Chevrolet. Working with Chevrolet was an experience I’ll never forget.
Although the monetary value the program offered was life changing, I’ll remember the experiences I had forever.
Chevrolet ‘flew me out’ to General Motors headquarters in Detroit and gave me the opportunity to be an on-air personality for a major production.
I made lifelong friends with the other HBCU student interns. I recently visited one of the other interns on my trip to Atlanta a few weeks ago.
Thank you Chevrolet and everyone at the Carol. H Williams Advertising Agency for seeing something in me and giving me the opportunity of a lifetime.
My internship with The Dow Jones News Fund at Shelterforce Magazine really allowed me to tone in on my skills as a multimedia reporter.
I completed my residency at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. I conducted and presented research on audio articles and launched audio format of print stories on the website. I gained a lot of professional experience from this internship.
This semester I will be a news intern at CBS-affiliate KNOE in Monroe. I’m so excited for this opportunity.
I am thankful to have found my passion so early in my life and I know big things are in store for my future.
A year ago if you would’ve told me that I would be filming commercials for Chevrolet, earning $20,000 in two months, and would be starting my senior year working at CBS, I wouldn’t have believed you.
I now have the confidence to know opportunities like these don’t just come to anyone, this is my purpose.
I encourage everyone to do at least one internship before you graduate. I want to see everyone win!
If you have trouble finding internships, Grambling State has many resources and people who will help you, like the Office of Career Services.
I put a lot of hard work into completing internships every semester since my freshman year at various major newspapers and radio stations across the country, while maintaining a 3.8 GPA.
I used to dream of being on television and now my childhood dreams are coming true.
Thank you to everyone who has helped me along my journey so far. The support I’ve received from Grambling alumni is very encouraging. I’m excited for what’s next in my career and appreciate all of the opportunities I had this summer to represent GSU!
Jasmine Franklin, a senior mass communication major from Chicago, Illinois, and is editor in chief of The Gramblinite