Hunting For Internships

Hello Everyone,

We apologize for our absence from the blogging world over the past few months. We're going to kick off our new series of blogs with a post from Erica, who just returned from interning at the U.S. Department of State during the fall. Here's what she has to say:

Hello blogging community, my name is Erica and I’m a senior double majoring in International Relations and Political Theory & Constitutional Democracy through James Madison College at MSU. It’s hard to believe that I am working my way through my final undergraduate semester. These past 4 years have flown by faster than I thought possible, but I’ve done all I can do to make the most of my Spartan experience. With graduation quickly approaching I've been filling out lots of applications and am trying to figure out what my life will look like post-MSU.

As daunting as this task is I have to say that James Madison College’s required Field Experience has provided me with a great foundation for the career hunt. James Madison College students are required to complete a field experience or study abroad for credit once they reach junior status. These experiences help students take their learning outside the classroom and apply their skills to real world scenarios. I have been fortunate enough to complete multiple study abroad programs and internships and each of them has been an eye-opening experience. However, my most recent experience during the 2013 Fall Semester was the internship I chose to use for my Field Experience.

I made the choice to spend my fall semester off campus in order to complete my program. Many students complete their internships during the summer sessions or stay in the Lansing area, but I relocated to Washington, D.C. and took the opportunity to intern with the U.S. Department of State. The experience was almost surreal, but it couldn’t have been a more perfect fit for my studies and academic interests. I moved down to Washington, D.C. at the end of August, just as many of my peers were beginning their classes at MSU. During my 14 weeks in D.C. I was still enrolled as an MSU student but instead of attending classes I was working 40 hours a week. The shift into the work environment was not unknown to me, having worked as a student employee at MSU, but I’ll admit that is was a little odd not going home and having homework to complete. Instead I stayed busy maintaining my connections with student groups at MSU while also building numerous new friendships and connections in the D.C. area. I explored the city on weekends and tried to soak up all D.C. had to offer…which included a great Spartan network that bonded over MSU Football at the local MSU bar.

At the conclusion of the internship I was required to write a couple of papers reflecting on my experience and what I have learned. While the papers have been helpful in processing all the things I did over the 14 weeks in D.C., I think one of the biggest lessons I learned was the perseverance of applying to internships in the first place. During the spring of my junior year I applied to countless internship programs. I felt like all I did was constantly edit my resume and cover letter and more often than not I would send off my application and never hear back. However, as I return to the application process—now for full-time positions—I appreciate the countless hours I spent on applications last year. Now, not only do I have practice with application and interview skills, but I can discuss the various projects and assignments I have completed during my internships. And better yet I know that while it may take hours upon hours of applications, success is possible. 

Erica
Senior
IR & PTCD 

Perks of Being in Spartan Nation

When asked about the perks of being in James Madison, many students answer with "small class sizes, close relationships with professors, challenging academic work," etc. In this post, I want to talk about one perk of James Madison that is sometimes overlooked: the opportunity to be a part of the Spartan Nation.

I suppose this is really a perk that applies to every student who attends Michigan State, but I think it's important to mention in the context of James Madison students.

The student section fills the lower right corner of Spartan Stadium during a white-out game against Boise State

When people talk about Madison, they mention how the residential aspect of the college allows students to form a close-knit community by bonding over shared courses and experiences. Another way that community is formed at MSU is through the support of our sports teams. Even if you are not a huge sports fan when you come to Michigan State, it's hard not to be swept up in the electric atmosphere on big game days.

Members of the Izzone getting pumped up for a men's basketball game

For example, when MSU earned a place in the Rose Bowl by winning the 2013 Big Ten Football Championship, the entire campus was swept up in Rose Bowl hysteria. Even people who had not followed the football season closely were excited to be a part of such a historic moment for MSU. During the month of December, it just felt great to be a Spartan.

Me standing in front of the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, CA

James Madison is housed in Case Hall, which is right across the street from four sports venues at MSU: Spartan Stadium (football), Ralph Young Field (field hockey, track and field), Munn Ice Arena (ice hockey), and the Breslin Center (men's and women's basketball). Many other venues are within a fifteen minute walk of the building. Being so close makes it easy to support the Spartans and enjoy a game or a match. Most varsity sporting events are free for MSU students, too! The only events you have to buy tickets for are football, men's basketball, and ice hockey games. Even then, there are special student prices, so you don't have to break the bank in order to go!

Case Hall is the brown building at the bottom of the map. Red lines lead to (left to right): Breslin Center (basketball), DeMartin Stadium, Sechia Stadium, and Kobs Field (soccer, softball, and baseball), Munn Ice Arena (hockey), Jenison Fieldhouse (volleyball, wrestling, gymnastics, indoor track), IM West (swimming & diving), Ralph Young Field (field hockey, outdoor track), and Spartan Stadium (football).

Sometimes Madison students are guilty of spending too much time in Case Hall. While it's convenient to have most of our classes in one building, it sometimes gives us tunnel vision and we forget that the rest of MSU's amazing campus is waiting for us outside. Grabbing a group of friends and heading off to a basketball game is a great way to break up your week, get some fresh air, and spend a little time remembering just how huge and awesome MSU really is. It's also a great opportunity to meet some friends outside of Madison!

Becky
Senior
Social Relations & Policy
Accounting

Studying Abroad Through JMC

As my sophomore year began, and the talk of my friends' summers across the globe loomed through the air, I knew that I wanted to have that experience next summer. While in my STEPPS (Science, Technology, Environment and Public Policy) intro class, Professor Craig talked about a summer in Italy, starting in Rome and ending in Florence. The study abroad included a deep understanding of Rome’s history, by reading Livy’s masterpiece, The History of Rome, and then while in Florence, we dug deep into Dante’s works, including The Inferno. The thought of reading about the history of Rome, then going out onto the streets of Rome and seeing that history come to life was something that I wanted to experience. So, after that class I sent in my application and kept my fingers crossed. Knowing that studying abroad is not cheap, I knew that I still needed to talk my parents into letting me go, also since this was a PTCD study abroad rather than a IR study abroad I knew that persuading my parents would be difficult. However, after talking with Jeff Judge, he suggested that I use this study abroad as my field experience and also with the help of the study abroad office, along with a generous donation from an alum, I was able to cough up the money and fly 4,627 miles across the globe to Italy! After the long plane ride to Italy, a few of my classmates and I got off the plane waited for our luggage and made our way out of the airport. Luckily for me, my dad’s college roommate lives in Italy, so I was able to do a quick tour of the city before meeting up with the rest of my classmates. As the trip began to unfold I began to realize how lucky I was to be in Italy. Not only was I blessed with touring two of the most beautiful cities in the world, but also I made some of my best friends along the way. Studying abroad was truly the best experience I had as an undergrad thus far. Instead of just reading books or taking blue book exams, we got to immerse ourselves in what we were learning about by visiting historic sites in Rome and Florence. We got to fully dive into the culture and the people that surrounded us. This is truly a once in a lifetime experience. After graduation and we are in the “real world” we may not have the chance to do something like this, so why not do it now?

Lisa

Senior

International Relations

Science, Technology, Environment, and Public Policy Minor

From Mississippi to Madison: Out of State Perspective

“Where are you going to school?” “Michigan State.” “Oh wow, that’s far. It’s cold up there, isn’t it?” Now, if I had a dollar for how many times I had this conversation my senior year of high school, I probably would far from the mark of the typical broke college student. Unfortunately, that’s not how the world works, so here I am in Michigan…in the cold…and far from home. I am from Hattiesburg, Mississippi! Most people haven’t heard of this city, but if you’re at least familiar with the Gulf Coast (Gulfport/Biloxi), it’s an hour north of there. You might be wondering, “Why is she at Michigan State?” Well there are a lot of answers to that question, but the biggest things for me were the Honors College and James Madison College. I knew that between the two, Michigan State was the place for me. The decision to come here was pretty easy after I visited here a couple of times. I literally fell in love with campus and everything that MSU was about. I knew I couldn’t see myself anywhere else. Fortunately, everything worked out, and here I am having the time of my life. 

I believe that being an out of state student has shaped my experience here at MSU by pushing beyond my limits and out of my comfort zone. These two things are something that anybody should aim to do during their college years, but I had to do so from the very beginning. I didn’t know anybody here, and I also knew as much about MSU and East Lansing as I was told during my visits. When I first got up here, I had the choice to either put myself out there to try and make friend while getting familiar with the area or keeping to myself. I chose the former, and I am glad I did. Beyond all this, being from Mississippi definitely makes breaking the ice easy! I already have so much to talk about with someone because Mississippians aren’t all over the place here in Michigan. 

Of course, with any good comes the bad, but it’s not too bad. As an out of state student, most of my time is spent here in East Lansing during the school year. Some out of state students go home for thanksgiving break, but since it is so short, most choose to stay on campus. The other breaks are lengthy enough, but the issue comes in when you just want to get away from campus for a weekend- you really can’t. With that comes tip number #1, make friends who live in Michigan!!! It can really come in handy sometimes, but I believe the lack of ability to have a regular change of scenery made the madison transition a little harder because being around JMC, Case, and other madison students is already a regular thing, but it is even more of a big deal if you’re out of state because you’re around it 99% of the time. For me, it took some adjusting to that because sometimes I would just want to get away for a bit, so I’d end up just getting frustrated with having the same scene all the time. This is probably the worst thing that comes along with being an out of state student in Madison. Other than that, it’s pretty cool! As an out of state student, especially since I’m from the south, I bring a different perspective on issues that are being discussed in class. You could do the exact same!

I know that when planning to go to school out of state from wherever you live, there are always a lot of people who don’t think it’s the best idea or even try to talk you out of it. Tip #2- Do what you think is best for you! I know would have missed out on so much had I let the distance or fear of the cold or anything else keep me from attending MSU. That being said, if you’re out of state and considering coming to Michigan State, I highly recommend it (no surprise there!). I do have some suggestions though. 

1- Allow yourself to miss home. You don’t need to act like to don’t miss it in order to stay afloat here. It’s natural, so let nature run its course!

2- Try to make friends and get involved/plugged in as soon as you can!

3- Try joining clubs or groups that feature some traveling because it’s nice to get away from East Lansing whenever you can (Ex. I joined MSUIRO which is the competitive Model UN team here, and I was able to go to Philadelphia last fall for a conference! It was great)

4- Don’t forget about friends back home! It’s hard to manage the friendships from far away, but they are essentially your easily accessible to key to home next to your family. It’s definitely manageable to balance friendships here and at home.

5- Don’t let being an out of state student hold you back from ANYTHING! Once you come to MSU, you are just like everybody else here- an MSU student. The fact that you’re not from around here shouldn’t mean at thing!

6- Finally, this is the biggest thing. Remember that you’re at MSU because you want something from MSU. Whatever that might be go and get it and chase after it constantly! You’re here for a reason, so shine bright :)

Florence 

Sophomore 

International Relations and Comparative Cultures & Politics 

Easing the Transition: Freshman Seminars Abroad

                In the August before I started my freshman year at Michigan State University, I decided to apply to go on a Freshman Study Abroad to Salvador, Brazil. I wanted to the chance to meet professors, especially because the two professors going on the trip taught for James Madison College, where I would be attending. I also thought it'd be helpful to get to know other new students who shared similar interests, like traveling, as me. The application process for the FSA wasn't very difficult, but I had developed convincing arguments about the benefits of study abroad to persuade my parents into supporting my trip. I was accepted into the program, and convinced my parents studying abroad would be largely advantageous for me. I quickly grasped that my dream of traveling outside the country (further than Canada, that is) would soon become a reality. I was very nervous in the weeks leading up to my departure; I didn't know anyone else who I would be traveling and spending two weeks with. However, I realized that this mirrored what my transition to MSU would be like.

                My time in Brazil was filled with the befriending of my fellow students, many who were also entering James Madison, exploring the city and culture of Salvador, and building up a relationship with my professor. The schoolwork was not overwhelming, but it gave me a fair idea of the level of writing that was expected of students in James Madison. It definitely helped to prepare me for the work in college.  I loved the opportunity to meet and talk with students who were in the same place in their lives as I was. We were able to discuss what we were excited about for MSU and our fears about roommates and classes. This helped to dilute my own worries about the future, since I knew that other people were also nervous. When I returned back home, and had to wait two weeks before entering college, I could hardly wait. Traveling independently abroad gave me a taste for freedom that made me even more eager to come to MSU. Now being a freshman at MSU, I realize more than ever how beneficial my study abroad to Brazil truly was. It gave me the confidence to explore an entirely new place on my own, which smoothed my transition into college and also made me more open to trying new experiences.

Ellery

Freshman 

Student Government at Michigan State

A little about me - I was elected to represent my class all four years of high school and I took it quite seriously. I was honored to represent my class and achieved leadership positions because I love getting involved. Even though I graduated with a class of about 400 students, the student governments at MSU seemed overwhelming because I would be representing thousands of people in my colleges, not hundreds. As a sophomore, I currently hold seats on the James Madison Student Senate and on ASMSU. 

During the end of the Spring semester of my freshman year I had the privilege of running for an elected position in James Madison Student Senate and earned a seat in the International Relations Caucus. Although I felt compelled to change my major to Comparative Cultures and Politics, I represent my Madison colleagues by exercising basic responsibilities like running the office for an hour or more every two weeks, attending the General Assembly meetings and reporting on ASMSU (Which I will explain later). James Madison Student Senate is just like Student Council in high school, but there is a caucus for each major in Madison. One person from each caucus and more contribute to committees such as social programming, academic programming, university community alumni relations, and community service network. JMC Student Senate organizes events for Madison students and communicates with groups in Case Hall and faculty to bridge the gap. 

ASMSU, which stands for Associated Students of Michigan State University, is a much bigger version of JMC Student Senate. It is similar to my high school student council in the set up where we have a faculty supervisor and then there is an elected executive board and committees. Depending on the number of admitted students in each college at MSU there is at least two or more representatives for each college. I was appointed to represent the College of Communication Arts and Sciences because I am a double major inside that college. I am supposed to represent the college of Communication Arts and Sciences and also serve in the Academic Affairs committee where we start resolutions or bills on anything related to Academics. As a member of the Academic Affairs committee it is required of us to attend University Council meetings once a month which include the presence of the President of MSU, the Provost and deans of the colleges across campus. The President, Lou Anna K. Simon, usually speaks about her visions and things going on at MSU through her perspective. Attendees are welcome to speak their opinions about new ideas and goals.

As an ASMSU representative it is my responsibility to make my constituents aware of the resources available to them as well as vote on bills or resolutions on various topics. We have passed a few bills to advocate for more gender neutral bathrooms across campus, post bills online so students can read them and share their opinions, and advocate for freezing tuition rates. Even though it may seem intimidating, ASMSU has many resources to help representatives and students are never alone. 

In college I think it's hard to sit back and let everything figure itself out. Although sometimes I felt like I was thrown into these positions, I asked many questions and learned that students do have a voice in academic governance at this university. Unfortunately I will be leaving my seats this spring semester because I will be studying abroad and missing re-elections. However, I will never regret trying it out in the first place. I have gotten to know some amazing peers from my college to the outside of JMC and these student government opportunities are rewarding experiences within themselves. I have gotten to meet more faculty, and learn about a lot of the things that go on behind-the-scenes, and I'm proud to be Spartan leader and stick with my Spartans to the end.

Monica
Sophomore
Comparative Cultures & Politics and Media & Information Technology

Love of Languages

Like many students who enter James Madison College, a love of learning languages and cultures was a motivating factor in the direction of my higher education. While I have always intended to major in International Relations and Comparative Cultures and Politics, I knew that I wanted to continue learning the foreign language that I had developed a love for: Spanish. Upon arriving at the university, I completed my Madison language requirement using Spanish and continued to take Spanish classes for my first two years at MSU.

However, I made a drastic decision and picked up a new language for the Fall of my 2^nd year: Portuguese. As a language that is rarely (if ever) taught at the primary and secondary education levels in most American school districts, Portuguese may appear as a random decision for many. However, for others it makes complete sense. Brazil is a rising nation in every aspect of today’s world, which will be very visible in the upcoming FIFA World Cup and Summer Olympic Games that the South American nation will host. In addition to this growing importance, the similarity yet difference that the language had to Spanish was enticing, as was the fact that it is a rarely studied language in American society, which I hope will set me apart when I begin applying for jobs after graduation.

Like many other languages at MSU, Portuguese is fortunate in that it has a smaller more intimate department at the University, meaning a strong community is formed and a support network is personalized. This fact, in addition to my love for learning the language, encouraged me to adopt Portuguese as a minor despite the fact that I had already studied a different language for a full year.

This decision, however, will not force me to stay over four years in undergraduate education and in fact opened an entirely new opportunity to me: studying abroad in Brazil. While the program that James Madison College offers in Brazil is conducted in English, the fact that I was learning Portuguese and would have a year under my belt during the program encouraged me to apply and really enjoy my time spent abroad. I had the valuable experience of both attending a Madison study abroad program while emerging myself in a culture that I hope to one day become a part of. This had many benefits, including background and contextual education that allows me to both use my Madison class in my language courses as well as the other way around.

My decision to adopt Portuguese as a minor is a decision that I continue to be pride of and I hope will pay off in the future. While every student is different and has unique ambitions, I would encourage any student who wishes to further round out their education to pursue a language they enjoy beyond what is required of them.

Danny B.

Junior, Comparative Cultures & Politics and International Relations