Mackenzie Larson

Majors: Communication, Marketing

Marketing Intern, Professional Football Hall of Fame

How did you learn about this internship opportunity? 

I found and applied to a variety of internship opportunities through LinkedIn, Teamwork Online, and Indeed. I specifically came across this opportunity while scrolling through my LinkedIn feed.

How has your internship helped build your skills and clarify your career goals?  How did being a Liberal Arts student at Purdue apply to your internship?

My internship has been a very well rounded and enjoyable experience within the sports industry. It has allowed me to better understand what goes into being successful in the corporate sector as well as educated me on the functions of non-profits. I now have a stronger understanding of both corporate and team functions within sports to help make upcoming career decisions.

What is a piece of advice you would give someone in your major  looking for an internship? 

I want each prospective intern to remember that any opportunity is a good opportunity if you are truly passionate about what you are doing. I had no clue where I would be this summer or with who, but I knew that if it was in my dream field it would be worth it. The people I had yet to meet could very well be the ones who lead me to my dream job. I took a huge leap of faith by moving across the country for the summer and would not change a thing. 

What key responsibilities or tasks have you taken on during your internship?

I am incredibly grateful for the variety of tasks I have been assigned so far. A few of my favorites have included running the Hall's social media pages for our Awards of Excellence ceremony, surveying museum guests to better understand our target audiences and creating ecommerce email campaigns! 

In what ways has the College of Liberal Arts at Purdue University supported your internship journey? How has your participation in our job-ready program specifically aided your professional development? 

The College of Liberal Arts at Purdue University has really pushed me to not only get an internship but supported me in each step of the process as well. Professors and advisors within Liberal Arts make it clear day in and day out that they want their students to succeed. I was motivated each day that I walked out of SCLA 300 to find my dream job and get to apply for Job-Ready. Once I was awarded the opportunity to be apart of this program, it lifted so much financial stress off my shoulders. The move further from home was much less daunting, and my internship opportunity became that much more exciting. I am now able to get hands-on once in a lifetime experience that may not have been feasible without the scholarship. On top of that, without being a CLA student I would not have even had the opportunity to apply. It is a unique and incredible scholarship only available to students in the College of Liberal Arts. 

Could you highlight a standout aspect of your experience in this program that you find particularly noteworthy? 

I love that the Instagram takeovers are incorporated in as an opportunity for recipients. I think it is not only a great way for prospective, future, or current CLA students to learn from their peers but also connect. As students we get to show off our accomplishments and unique opportunities that each of us is experiencing while having similar academic interests.