Makayla Bell

Major: Anthropology (B.S., concentration in Archaeology)

Wright Scholar Intern at Wright Scholar Research Assistant Program funded by DCS Corporation

How did you learn about this internship opportunity?

I learned about this internship opportunity through our family friends. One of them had been a mentor for the program previously, and thought I would be interested in applying because it was a great experience to work at an Air Force Base inside Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

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

A piece of advice I would give someone in my major looking for an internship is to be open-minded with the places they apply to. I was originally majoring in Planetary Sciences when I applied to this STEM internship, so I was placed in the Hypersonics department of AFRL the summer before my freshman year at Purdue. However, after I changed majors to Anthropology that fall semester, I asked my internship program manager if I could work in a more social sciences-oriented department of AFRL, and he found me a position at the 711th Human Performance Wing in the Information Mastery of Cognitive Warfare division. The people within that department needed an anthropological perspective on the capabilities they were developing, meaning I could be of assistance even without a STEM degree. I would also say start applying to internships when you are in high school because they are a great experience and some can continue through college, like the one I applied to when I was a graduated high school senior.

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

The key responsibilities I have taken on during this internship have been providing an anthropological perspective to the projects my department have been working on.

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 helped build my skills and clarify my career goals by exposing me to a real-world work environment. I have learned how to be a self-starter, have a strong work ethic, communicate effectively, and collaborate successfully with a team. This opportunity has allowed me to see a potential career field I could choose, working as a government employee on an Air Force base conducting research within AFRL. Being a Liberal Arts student at Purdue, opened up the doors to me working in the cognitive warfare division of the 711th Human Performance Wing, an experience I never would have imagined my education would have applied to. Nevertheless, they wanted an anthropologist to provide a new cultural perspective on the projects for information warfare they were developing.

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 supported my internship journey by presenting me with this Job-Ready award, which enabled me to have the resources I needed to participate in the program. They have been encouraging to my academic endeavors by providing me with the funds I needed to be an intern this summer to further develop my social sciences knowledge. My participation in the Job-Ready program specifically aided my professional development by allowing me to immerse myself into an actual workplace to gain real, authentic experience from well-educated people. Being a College of Liberal Arts student has given me the tools I needed to succeed for this internship. The College of Liberal Arts is a great department focused on giving their students the best education and friendly guidance. By being a College of Liberal Arts student in a mostly STEM oriented industry, I can help pave the road for future social science students wanting to pursue a career in STEM innovation and research.

Could you highlight a standout aspect of your experience in the Job-Ready program that you find particularly noteworthy?

A standout aspect of my experience in the Job-Ready program that I find particularly noteworthy is how they check in to make sure you are enjoying your internship. I appreciate the time and effort the Job-Ready program people take to ensure their students are enjoying their summer and have all the resources they need. I have enjoyed participating in my internship this summer with the help of the Job-Ready program.