Students Share their 2022 Internship Experiences

During Winterim, students have the opportunity to intern at a for-profit or non-profit business. Internships provide students with firsthand experience in the skills that they will need in order to be successful in a potential career and beyond. This valuable experience often informs the decisions that students make as they look ahead towards college. It also gives them exposure to professional mentors who are doing what they may want to do later in life. But don’t just take our word for it—hear directly from our students as they share what they learned.

Zach '22

Internship: Windy City Bulls Media Team

During Winterim, Zach interned with the Windy City Bulls media team where he filmed and photographed at games. Zach proved himself so valuable that he was even offered a job at the conclusion of his internship. He shares this advice with students, “Your passion is priceless. If you love doing something, work towards it!”

Video jobs are all about connections and experience which I definitely gained from my internship on the media team with the Windy City Bulls.

Natalie ’25

Bull Run Equestrian Center

During her internship at an equestrian center, Natalie cared for horses, assisted the Show Jumping Team, and helped to teach beginner riders important skills.

Working as the Bull Run Equestrian Center intern was an eye opening experience! I learned more in two weeks about this career than I have over the last 7 years in the equestrian community.

Zinnia '23

Internship: Positive Options

During Zinnia’s internship at Positive Options, she learned about ways to care for young moms in crisis by providing pregnancy tests, medical information, and ultrasounds.

The best part of the internship was meeting the clients and getting to know their stories.

Josh & Caleb '23

Internship: Red Team Operations

Some students learn so much from an internship experience that they choose to complete a second internship at the same company. That’s exactly what Josh and Caleb Mariotti did during their second internship with cybersecurity firm Red Team Operations.

I was able to complete an operation on my own, working my way all the way to the top of a company through ethical hacking. This experience helped to solidify my plans for a major in Computer Science in college.

Abby '24

Internship: Breakthrough Ideas

To explore her interest in political journalism, Abby interned at Breakthrough Ideas with former IL State Representative Jeanne Ives during Winterim. Abigail worked on voter research projects, observed the podcast recording team, and created flyers and graphics.

I am so thankful for my internship with Breakthrough Ideas. I appreciate the exposure and insight I gained into the political world.

Matthew '24

Internship: X-Treme Graphics

Matthew interned at a X-Treme Graphics where he explored his passion for graphic design. On the job, Matthew learned about vinyl design, production, and application to vehicles.

I couldn’t possibly have thought of a better way to get started in the profession I plan to pursue.

Penny '22

Internship: Spoonfed Kitchen

Penny interned with the leadership team at Spoonfed Kitchen and Bake Shop where she assisted with organization, event planning, and product launching.

My internship with Spoonfed Kitchen and Bakeshop taught me to identify my strengths, weaknesses, and passions as I consider possible career paths.

Hudson '23

Internship: Sharron Art Center

Hudson interned at Sharron Art Center where he providing engineering direction to guide students in developing a college art portfolios.

I hope to work in Artificial Intelligence (AI) so I plan to major in Computer Engineering. Designing AI requires an engineer to have all kinds of skills—physics, linear algebra, probability, calculus, neuroscience, graphic design… This internship equipped me to further explore my field.

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