The Center for Student Success, Global Engagement and Experience Student spotlight Each year our students engage in exciting, rewarding internships that bring the classroom to life and set a course for professional success. Here are just few of our recent interns and their inspirational stories.
Anthony Chan
My name is Anthony and I graduated in May 2015 from Parsons majoring in Strategic Design and Management. I grew up in Los Angeles, attended high school in Hong Kong, and somehow ended up in New York City for college! My career interests are as varied as my upbringing. Some include fashion, retail, nonprofit and self-help. How did you get involved with internships? Where have you interned?
I got involved with internships pretty early on in my undergraduate career. I saw internships as opportunities not only to gain work experience and contribute to a company, but also to explore different career paths. There are a million different jobs even within the same industry, so internships are an excellent opportunity to get snippets into these various roles. I have interned at nonprofits in a variety of roles. Advocacy at Lambda Legal, communications at Freedom to Marry, and marketing at The Trevor Project. I have also interned with the planning department at Saks Fifth Avenue, public relations at Gucci, and wholesale at Diane Von Furstenberg. Even within the nonprofit or fashion industry, there are a plethora of different careers. I initially got involved with internships through browsing the job sections of companies I was interested in. However, this was before I found out about our school's career portal (SuccessLink) and the never-ending list of opportunities! I found my most recent internships through SuccessLink. How has your education at The New School prepared you for your career? The biggest takeaway my education at The New School offered me is the ability to be versatile in everything I do. No longer are graduates expected to solely be proficient in one skill, but rather, in learning new skills, working with others, and having an open mind. These are all traits that a New School education fosters, from team projects to open discussions in our classrooms. My major specifically has afforded me the opportunity to develop both my analytical mind and creative intelligence, which I feel has opened me to limitless career opportunities. What is your favorite thing about The New School and New York City? My favorite thing about The New School is that no one grew up down the block (or at least the majority of students didn't). The university enticed everyone with something different. From academics to location to student population, everyone was uniquely drawn to The New School from all over the country and the world.
Rachel Rossen Hi! I'm Rachel Rossen. I am a Senior Arts in Context student at Lang, concentrating in contemporary music, media, and culture. I am originally from Chicago, and I moved to New York in 2014 to become more involved in the independent music industry. Where have you interned? I spent 8 months as the PR intern at Brooklyn-based record label Captured Tracks, and it's larger family, Omnian Music Group. I am currently the administrative intern at Brooklyn DIY-venue Palisades. How has your education at The New School prepared you for your career? The New School has allowed me to pursue non-traditional interests through interesting and specific courses in music and cultural studies. The diversity of interest among the students, and specifically within the music program, has allowed me to make connections with a variety of people in the industry. Describe your current role. What are your plans for the future? As a PR intern at Captured Tracks, I wrote press releases, pitch writers for tour/premiere coverage, and set up guest list spots for live show-- basically, lots and lots of emails! Lots of my work required research into which individual bands/artists would appeal to certain publications and writers. At Palisades, I am currently the assistant to one of the co-owners. I do a number of tasks that mostly revolve around account management and hospitality management. As I move forth, I hope to keep making connections to figure out which side of the industry I am most interested in, whether it's working for a label, a venue, a booking company, or a PR firm.
What is your favorite thing about The New School and New York City? My favorite thing about The New School is the diverse interests of the students. Every person who I have met at Lang has a distinct passion for the arts or another field. New York City is the best city in the world for music, and Brooklyn is a hub for the independent industry.
Charlotte Lewis
My name is Charlotte Lewis, and I am a visual arts major at Eugene Lang. I'll graduate in 2018. I'm from Ashburn, Virginia, which is a suburb of Washington, DC. Coming to NYC was a bit of a culture shock for me because of how busy and loud it was, as well as the fact that I grew up surrounded by nature and now it is very sparse. Being here, though, has made me focus intently on my passions - art and music. I hope to have an entrepreneurial career in the creative field, and my internship as well as the Visual Arts program at Lang have helped me move towards this goal. How did you get involved with internships? Where have you interned? This is my first internship, but I got involved by doing research and not being too picky about what I would be ok with doing. I'm a marketing intern at Harper's Bazaar, which is not exactly what I hope to focus on in the future, but being open to trying it out definitely was a positive factor in their choice to bring me on for the summer. This position has taught me skills in business, event planning, and marketing that I wouldn't have otherwise gotten firsthand experience on, which, after all, I think are very relevant to my goals in the future. How has your education at The New School prepared you for your career? The New School has surrounded me with peers and professors who are extraordinarily knowledgeable and passionate. My peers are so proactive and unique, doing all sorts of amazing things that inspire me and keep me pushing forward on my own passions. My teachers have awesome experiences and careers that are usually very relevant to what I hope to do in the future. It's way better to hear first hand advice from them and lessons that I can't get from an art history text book. I think, based on what I've heard from other college students from different schools in the city, that this experience is unique and new and I'm so grateful that I've ended up here because I couldn't have asked for more. Describe your current role. What are your plans for the future?
I am a marketing intern and student, artist, musician. In the near future I'm hoping to get a creative collective together which will start as a series of art and music gatherings. Eventually, I hope to start my own business and venue for artists and musicians to promote creativity and relevance of these fields in the greater culture sphere. What is your favorite thing about The New School and New York City? There is always a deli open somewhere at 3am, I am never bored, always learning, yin and yang like balance of work and play is a theme here. SO much inspiration surrounding me at all times.
Samuel Lockhart My name is Sam Lockhart and I recently graduated in May with a degree in Literary Studies. I'm originally from Washington D.C., but came to New York to pursue a career in the music business. How did you get involved with internships? Where have you interned? My first internship, for Complex Media, I actually found on Twitter and was fortunate enough to have a learning experience there which allowed me to network my way in to some great opportunities. During my time in school I also interned at Webster Hall, Red Light Management, Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment. It's just about the hustle and putting yourself out there as someone who is passionate and reliable. How has your education at The New School prepared you for your career? I transferred in to The New School after my sophomore year, so I was a bit behind in terms of my familiarity with the school's culture. I think the biggest take away for me during my two years at The New School was the outside the box way of thinking that is so engrained in the school's identity. Everyone that is involved in the community seems to emphasize a
collaborative approach and creative problem solving, both of which are essential for functioning at a high level in the work place. Describe your current role. What are your plans for the future? Right now I'm taking a little time to relax and find the right fit for a full-time position in entertainment. It's a tough business to get in to, but I would never consider doing anything else. What is your favorite thing about The New School and New York City? I'd have to say the most compelling thing about The New School and New York is both the opportunity and the people. Living in NYC, you're in a melting pot of different backgrounds and perspectives - that can teach you a lot about life. I think the New School embodies that in its variety of students and faculty. As far as opportunity goes, people always talk about the whole bright lights big city thing and that is a huge motivation for me. Just knowing that "if you can make it here you can make it anywhere," always pushes me to stay hungry and on top of my game.
Lea Ceasrine
Hi my name is Lea, I was born in White Plains, New York and grew up in Wilton, Connecticut. My hope is to work in the editorial field, and one day publish a novel. How did you get involved with internships? Where have you interned? I knew that I wanted an internship as soon as I transferred to The New School. My first semester here, I interned at TV Guide Magazine in the Editorial Department. It was a lot of acclimating at once, but the hard work paid off! I spent my last semester here interning at
Time Out New York. I learned even more about editorial and started getting opportunities to write. How has your education at The New School prepared you for your career? Because of The New School, I'm a better thinker, reader and writer. I'm not afraid to voice my opinions and work independently - which are definitely attributes that strengthen me as a writer. I am currently freelancing for Time Out New York on a part-time basis. I plan to take on a full-time role at a digital mag or publishing house. What is your favorite thing about The New School and New York City? The New School is so unique. I have met some of the most interesting people here. New York City has one million and one things to offer - I'm always going to different venues, free things, new cafes, and I even have my secret spots where I go when I need to get away from the noise.
Thinking about interning in the future? Send us an email at experience@newschool.edu for more information.