Many Howard University students say the race to secure internships is both a source of motivation and stress as many juggle applications, networking and academic responsibilities while measuring themselves against high-achieving peers.
With summer approaching, students across majors are submitting application after application in hopes of landing positions that will strengthen their resumes and professional careers.
The pressure of securing an internship that will land a high-paying job out of college motivates students like sophomore television and film major Jaylen Smith from Atlanta.
“There is added pressure to that, but that’s in a good way,” Smith said. “It makes you want to do better, it makes you want to make sure that on top of things.”
Students say networking plays an essential role in professional development. By joining organizations and securing internships, many build connections they hope will open doors later in their careers.
Some internships however, are geared primarily towards juniors and seniors, leaving underclassmen searching for other ways to gain experience. Despite the lack of work opportunities for underclassmen, Christopher Warren, a freshman economics major from New Jersey, said joining organizations can be the step in professional development.
“Internships don’t mean you’re behind. There’s organizations to join. Through organizations, you make connections that hook you up with opportunities that get you recognized by people in your career field,” Warren said.
Warren is also a member of Howard Future Law Scholars, which he didn’t need previous experience to be qualified for. Howard Future Law Scholars require an application and a virtual information session. Many internships require work experience, certifications and a specific GPA, depending on the career field. He said he joined the group to help him gain knowledge and exposure that will prepare him for future opportunities.
Some students say the application process becomes a numbers game. Bolarinwa Ayoola, a sophomore computer science student from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, suggested that persistence is key.
“I learned from my past internships that you should be applying for jobs daily, so I tried to apply to about three a day,” Ayoola said.
According to students, the internship process can be very competitive, often requiring tailoring resumes and work experience, multiple rounds of interviews and following up to ensure their applications are seen.
The competition is even thicker at a university full of aspiring black professionals who were top of their graduating class.
Ziyonah Adams, a junior marketing major from Philadelphia, said there are many talented students at Howard University, which can sometimes lead students to play the comparison game.
“I’m always overthinking how qualified I am, and what else I could put on my resume that would make me more likely to get a job. Especially with the environment at Howard, being overqualified is common,” Adams said.
Adams added that the presence of successful and driven classmates, while inspiring, can also be stressful.
“There’s so many amazing and influential people that are consistently around you, sometimes it’s really easy to compare yourself. That adds to the pressure you feel when trying to build yourself at Howard,” Adams said.
Freshman political science major Travis Allen from Elberton, Georgia, says he uses that comparison as a catalyst to put his best foot forward at Howard University.
“I definitely compare myself, coming from a smaller town, seeing people have opportunities and connections makes you feel like you’re behind…The feeling of being left behind pushes me,” Allen said.
While Howard University is all about making connections, some are made before students ever walk on campus. Allen suggests that high school students should start building their resume to put themselves ahead of the game when they start applying to positions in their freshman year.
Social media sites like LinkedIn and Instagram serve as platforms for students to share their accomplishments. Jordan Sales, a sophomore political science major from Los Angeles, describes social media as a place where people only post their best moments and not their struggles.
“Social media is fake at the end of the day. People only post their highlights, not what they went through to get that,” Sales said.
When students get involved in work experience and extracurriculars, they can easily feel stretched thin by everything on their plate.
“A fear that drives me… not accomplishing everything I want to accomplish. Sometimes I overcommit myself, but I think that’s better than undercommitting myself,” Sales said.
Mental health professionals at Howard say the stress tied to academic and career pressures is common. Dr. Stacey Jackson-Lampley, chief psychologist and director of clinical services at the university’s counseling service, said having a place to talk about your stressors can help with symptoms of anxiety and depression.
“By having therapy, there’s a space to talk that can keep stress from building up. A place to talk can be helpful. Therapy is also a space where you can talk through options, and sometimes clinicians have information about resources,” Jackson-Lampley said.
She recommended that students who may be experiencing anxiety, stress or depressive symptoms explore what the counseling services have to offer.
“Our Instagram page provides tips on coping strategies and information about things that are upcoming at the counseling service. I highly recommend our workshop series,” Jackson-Lampley said.
The counseling services offer an opportunity to get information about managing stress or anxiety, identifying depressive symptoms, and coping strategies when students feel overwhelmed.
“Be patient and kind with yourself. You are at Howard, and you worked hard to get here. Setbacks can be disappointing, but that doesn’t have to be the final word,” Jackson-Lampley said.
Copy edited by D’Nyah Jefferson -Philmore
