By Hannah Will
When it comes to internships, the options for Harrington School students are endless. Students can intern in their hometown, their college town, or even abroad. Bridget Shannon, a senior Harrington School Journalism major and Public Relations minor, traveled across the pond for a semester to work in her dream internship.
Last fall, Shannon worked as an editorial intern for Time and Leisure Magazine in London. In her position, Shannon worked on editorial content and assisted the editors with other exciting projects. Shannon noted that her “favorite project” was the December fashion edit. For this project, she collaborated with the design team and other fashion companies to come up with a cohesive winter style guide.
Shannon described the experience as extremely “eye-opening.” She described the overall job as a “desk job,” but she also did a lot of field work, which made the internship valuable. She recalls one particular instance when she was assigned an article regarding a new fitness class that was becoming popular in London. The team sent Shannon out one Friday morning to take a barre class, a fitness class that is best described as a mix of ballet exercises, yoga, and Pilates. When she returned, she got to write an entire article for the online magazine site describing her experience in the class. She was delighted with the opportunity to share details about this fun, fitness class with readers.
Through this internship, Shannon was able to gain invaluable work experience with a well-respected publication. It was a great addition to her résumé and she loved seeing firsthand what went into publishing a monthly magazine.
Shannon was quick to recognize the essential role that URI’s Harrington School played in her ability to obtain this internship.
“The Harrington School has taught me to be extremely open to other points of view and how to communicate effectively,” Shannon said.
These skills were valuable to Shannon as she navigated the experience of interning abroad. She is excited to bring her new-found skills back to the classroom, and soon, out into the working world.
For students interested in finding a similar opportunity, Shannon recommended attending the Study Abroad Fair and talking with an advisor from the Study Abroad Office. The study abroad advisors helped her find and select the perfect program for her interests. Shannon also encouraged students to take that “leap of faith” and step out of their comfort zones with challenging internships at home or abroad because the Harrington School has prepared them for success.