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These days, an education means mixing your academic studies with real-world experience. That way, when it’s time to graduate you’ll already be at the head of the pack.
Shekib Ahmed
Originally from Dibrugarh, India, Shekib is a senior at Bentley College majoring in Managerial Economics. He’s putting his education to good use in ways that are felt worldwide. As a consultant in Reebok’s Human Rights Department in Canton, he monitored the company’s human-rights performance at factories around the globe.
His dream is to make the world better, and he’s found himself in the best place to do so.
“We have so many non-governmental organizations around Boston, not only national but international ones. Being close to so many universities and colleges and NGOs, it’s a lot easier to do this kind of work,” he says. “It broadens my horizons in the real world, and job opportunities in the international arena increase tremendously.”
Sure, Boston is known for its top-notch colleges and universities. But it’s also home to a thriving mix of world-class businesses and industries that partner with local schools to provide students with on-the-job training before they even graduate. In this city, students learn the tools of their trade not just in classrooms, but in the labs of high-tech companies, and in the halls of the nation’s best hospitals.
Into business? If you have a nose for business, in this town, you’ll fit right in. There’s a reason why Fortune magazine has consistently showered Boston with honors, naming it one of the hottest corporate locations in the country, one of the best cities to live in, and one of the hotspots for America’s knowledge workers. Whether you aim to find your niche in a Fortune 500 company or start your own business, a Boston internship is the perfect place to begin.
Jeff Thibodeau
A marketing major at Bentley College, this Rhode Island native has found himself a hot prospect in the Boston marketplace. After getting internship offers from numerous local companies, he accepted an internship at the Boston office of the international ad agency Arnold Worldwide. Working in brand development and business strategy, he analyzed the U.S. automobile market, with his findings going directly to Arnold’s
chief executive officer.
“There are just a ton of opportunities in Boston. It’s one of the best cities in the United States,” he says. “In Boston, word travels really fast, and you get recognized.”
Samantha Basso
Samantha came to Northeastern University confident that a music industry degree, and Boston as a whole, could offer her as many opportunities as the Big Apple. At Northeastern, Samantha participated in the school’s signature co-op program. Co-op allows students to work for up to three 6-month periods in five years. Full-time internships and jobs help to add real-world experience and enable students to build a resumé before graduation.
As a sophomore, Samantha worked with Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, which provides low-cost legal services to the arts community. Her six months with the firm gave her valuable experience in the arts and legal fields, and a renewed desire to continue work in the entertainment law industry.
“Having a hands-on role in the operations of the organization was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that probably would not have been possible elsewhere,” says Samantha, a new graduate who plans to attend law school next year. However, no matter how successful she becomes, Samantha’s work at the VLA also guarantees she will remember to give back to the community.
Karla Ventura
Originally from El Salvador, Karla arrived at Mount Ida College to pursue communications and fashion. She immersed herself in video production, working the camera at Mount Ida’s annual fashion show and securing a plum internship with NewTV in Newton, Massachusetts.
Karla served as president of Mount Ida’s Student Government Association, and was the founder of the Student Association for Latinos and Spanish Americans (SALSA). This club educates the community about Latino culture through events and dance lessons with professional instructors. “SALSA promotes diversity, which is one of Mount Ida’s biggest strengths,” says Ventura. “And it gives me a chance to do event planning, which I love.”
Despite her packed schedule, Karla still finds time to work with Volunteers in Action (VIA) – and for the past two years has built houses with Habitat for Humanity during spring break. In her spare time, such as it is, she performs with the drama club. And, she has a day job, working on campus in the student activities office. In her four years at Mount Ida, Karla has demonstrated that a Boston-based education offers unlimited opportunities to those with unbridled energy and a passion for learning.
Stacey Sweeny
Along with career internships, volunteer opportunities abound. The Burton Chill program, founded in 1995, by snowboarder guru Jake Burton, gives 100 underserved kids from Boston the opportunity to learn how to snowboard every winter. College volunteers get a chance to teach these children and form friendships, all while participating in a sport they love.
“It’s the most fulfilling volunteer experience I've ever had,” said Stacey Sweeny, a BU sophomore. Although driving out to Wachusett Mountain on a school night is not easy, for Stacey it’s worth it. “You develop a relationship with the kids as you teach them,” said Sweeny. (www.chill.org)
And all this is just the beginning. Want to market a pro sports team? Want to be the next host for MTV? Want to build a skyscraper? Want to be a stem cell researcher? Whatever your aspirations, you can accomplish them here, as a student in Boston.