Taking an internship has become a requirement for many
students to graduate from college. Many students are ready willing to take an
internship, but struggle to find a company that offers compensation.
Kiera Phipps, a junior communications major at Bowie State
University, was lucky enough to find two internships this year with Radio One
and WUSA9 in Washington, D.C. According to Phipps, networking is the key to
getting internships.
Not every student is as lucky as Kiera Phipps. Al Davis, a
junior communications major at Bowie State, has applied to numerous internships
this year, but has not heard back from anyone. Time is dwindling fast, as summer
is just around the corner, “I’ve actually applied to a few internships [for]
this summer… I guess I’ll just have to take a 9 to 5.”
Though an internship may be hard to acquire, students do
understand the value of an internship. “I would like to have internships and
get experience before I get into my profession, because I feel like that would
better me and help me put my foot my foot in the door,” said Tre’Vonn Dennis, a
sophomore communications major at Bowie State University.
Brandon Williams, a sophomore criminal justice major at Bowie
State University, refused to look for an internship this year, because of the
lack of pay. He explained that he took an internship at a firm where he would
be filming a Human Resource Officer while he was working with companies. He
worked hard in the job and received no pay. When he asked his boss, at the
time, about compensation, he was told, “This is a good way to get experience.”
That wasn’t enough for Williams, as he was starting a life with his fiancée and
was looking for compensation to support his family.
According to Business Insider, companies save about $2 billion
every year by hiring interns, 18% of internships are conducted illegally, and
women are 77% more likely to work in an internships that is unpaid. Students
must receive course credit or compensation for internships in order for them to
be legal. In the summer, many students pay tuition, many without financial aid,
for an internship credit to take an unpaid internship with a company.
As students prepare for their futures, this is the harsh
reality that undergraduates must face if they wish to graduate from their
respective universities.
“In some
cultures, I’m a music provider… Some people consider it an art, some people
consider it a job… I like to call it a DJ,” said Freeman McGaw about his
career. An aspiring disk jockey known as DJ Freeez understands his responsibility
to his community. Freeman McGaw wishes to leave a legacy to match his future
empire.
Freeman
McGaw is a 22 year-old broadcast journalism student at Bowie State University.
McGaw originally from Franklin, New Jersey, uses his roots to excel in the
music industry. Freeman often performs “Trap Music” for his audiences and has
many mixtapes available for download from his Sound Cloud account. Freeman has
also started an entertainment business called McGaw enterprises. This is just
the beginning of Mr. McGaw’s career.
According to
Freeman, he lives two lives. One life is that of Freeman McGaw, the other life
is DJ Freeez. He takes pride in the fact that he is able to switch in between
the lifestyles to his advantage. Being business savvy and musical adept helps
McGaw excel within the music industry. Recently, McGaw hired an agent under
McGaw Enterprises to help him secure events and maintain his business.
In the
future, McGaw wishes to give back to the Franklin community by offering some of
the experience that he’s had in Maryland through mentoring. One of the aspiring
Franklin DJ’s, Caution, will have the opportunity to perform at their former
high school’s prom. According to McGaw, this is his responsibility.
Freeman
explained that his community has taken a turn for the worst. Many influential
figures from Franklin, New Jersey have moved away from the community to pursue
their careers. There are no role models for young children to look up to and
the environment has taken a negative impact.
Freeman has
been lucky enough to matriculate and mature with positive mentors, like DJ
Gemini. He says that it is important to “shut up and absorb” when someone is
offering their advice. McGaw believes that there is so much you can take from a
mentor, to include energy. Energy is necessary in industry professionals.
Freeman
McGaw is laying out his life to become an industry heavy hitter, but remains
true to his community by being a mentor to young adults that aspire to achieve.
As the weather changes, college students must adjust their
focus to maintain academic success. Students at Bowie State University view,
and adjust to, the changing seasons differently.
According to Professor Berry, during fall semester, Bowie
State University students are able to zero in on their studies due to the lack
of social events and the plummeting temperatures. Spring semester boasts high
temperatures and allows for more frequent events, which can be difficult to
handle for some students.
Kenyetta Hazel, a junior at Bowie State, is very active in
the Student Government Association and a member of the Campus Activities Board.
During the spring semester, the Campus Activities Board is able to plan more
events for the student body. Hazel plays a pivotal role in event planning and
marketing on Bowie State’s campus. “You want to go out and enjoy the weather
and you know you have all your classes. Somehow I’ve managed to take the most amount
of classes during the spring,” says Kenyetta Hazel. This spring semester, she
is taking six classes.
In order to remain focused on her studies, Kenyetta reminds
herself that there are rewards at the completion of the spring semester, “I’m
about to go one summer break, so let me end the year right.”
Some students are motivated to excel by the weather. Rising
senior Parris Armstrong pinpoints his goals for the semester and sets out to
achieve them, “It’s grind time… The atmosphere just makes you feel like you’re
ready to get to work. [Ready] to accomplish.”
Professor Erin Berry of the Bowie State University Department
of Communications, being a younger Professor, has recognized and experienced
the changes students go through as the seasons change, “It’s really important
for students to remain focused… It’s also really important for students to
start thinking about what their summer plans are, whether it be internships,
jobs, or other ventures that they choose to pursue.”
The weather may have an effect on some students, but many graduating
seniors have a different perspective on the weather and its impact. “It doesn’t
matter what the weather is like, I just want to graduate,” said senior LaTonya
Jackson.
