Trenadee Johnson

Major: Communication (Public Relations and Strategic Communication; Media and Mass Communication)

Olympic Operations Intern, NBC Sports

1.) How did you find out about this internship opportunity?

LinkedIn! It truly is one of the greatest resources I’ve utilized during my undergrad career. Opportunities with big companies can be very easy to miss. LinkedIn makes it easy by putting all the information you need into one place. I was scrolling through job posts and figured that this would be a really cool opportunity to take part in. I applied and the rest is history!

2.) How has your internship helped build your skills and clarify your career goals?

As the most indecisive person on the planet, I was so concerned about being bored in my career. I didn't want to end up at a monotonous 9-5 doing the same thing every day. Taking this internship has only solidified those notions! Being the only intern in the entire Olympic Ops department, I am met with so many new, interesting, and most importantly different challenges every day. Working with such a large-scale event has taught me how to better adapt to change and how to make the most of situations shrouded with ambiguity. Partaking in this internship has made me a more confident worker and has shown how fun and exciting my future career can be!

3.) How do you apply your Liberal Arts skills to your internship? 

Communication! Often my major is overlooked by college students. However, without the skills gained during my Liberal Arts studies, I wouldn't have succeeded the way I have here in this position. There is absolutely nothing more valuable than being able to effectively convey a message to a group other than yourself. “Selling” an idea is truly the first step to someone taking a chance on you. Having the ability to weave a story and bring your listeners into the world you’ve created not only demonstrates a higher level of multidimensional thinking but shows an initiative and passion that is unique to only you. Having developed my voice and tone has allowed me to establish my place within the team and helped me stand out to my superiors.

4.) What is a piece of advice you would give someone looking for an internship?

Never count yourself out. I remember applying for this position thinking I would never be qualified to do the job I do today. But here I am! I thought that because my major was not technical I couldn't possibly work at such a high level of operation. I even thought I was too young! However, after doing it for over a year now, it’s safe to say I was more than capable. Liberal Arts is a superpower! Humanities are the crux of our world! Fresh perspectives are needed! Our studies bring us so much value to everything they come into contact with. So be brave and go for every opportunity you can think of. No matter the role or industry, know that YOU ARE needed!