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Interview
with Kristen Crusan, Intern, Make-A-Wish Foundation, 2/04
By Ben Keller
Service Learning Intern
Q. What is your major at the University of Pittsburgh?
Communications along with PPW Certificate.
Q. What attracted you to this program?
I was initially attracted to the Writing for Advertising & Fundraising
course that Pam teaches because I am interested in each of these
work fields. After speaking with Pam about the Certificate I was
thrilled to pursue it.
Q. How did you decide your internship site?
I have always been interested in the Make-A-Wish Foundation, so
when Pam informed me that they were in need of an intern I immediately
responded and sent a resume.
Q. What sort of things have you been asked to do?
It is titled a marketing & communications internship and because
I have it through the PPW Certificate, I am required to do a certain
amount of writing as well. I help with public & media relations,
including press releases and helping to prepare the marketing letters
to physicians. I also am able to write wish stories for them. A
wish story is written after each child is granted his or her wish,
and it is simply a story telling what the events of the child's
wish was. I also am asked to do various other office tasks such
as copying, mailings and filing.
Q. Is this what you expected from your internship?
I am definitely able to do a lot more hands-on work than I ever
expected from a first time internship. I never expected I would
be able to do the amount of work I have been doing. It has given
me so much experience I will be able to use in the future.
Q. What are you gaining from this experience that will help
in your professional life?
Everything! Because this is the career field I want to pursue, each
task I am needed to do at the Make-A-Wish Foundation will be beneficial
to my future.
Q. What, specifically at Pitt, helped you prepare for your internship?
All of the writing classes I have been able to take have helped
me prepare, but the most helpful aspect was meeting with Pam. She
and Jean are of much help to any student who wishes to enter the
program. Pam informed me of information to help me prepare for my
internship and what to expect and what level of work to give back
to my site.
Q. What have you been able to contribute to your internship?
Because they allow me to do such a large amount of work at such
an early time, I am hoping that I help contribute to their marking
and communications department in any way that I can. Each of these
departments is run by only one person and they take a lot of work
on their shoulders, so it is nice to know that I can contribute
some of my knowledge to help make their tasks easier.
Q. What do you hope to gain from this experience?
Most importantly, I hope to gain career experience through this
internship as well as learn more about the atmosphere that I wish
to work in when I graduate. Being a communications major is such
a broad field and I wasn't exactly sure where I wanted to go with
my degree. Internships are a great way of helping to concentrate
on a specific area. I was always interested in public relations
and this internship has reinforced this idea and now I want to explore
the field even further.
Q. What would you say to those students interested in this certificate
program?
I believe it is definitely a very beneficial experience. I am thrilled
that I became involved, not only because I enjoy writing and know
that it will help me in my career, but because I have been able
to also meet so many influential people and create relationships
with my professors. By being involved in the certificate you receive
one-on-one commitment from Jean and Pam and they are there, willing
to help, whenever you may need assistance.
Visit the
website of the Make-A-Wish
Foundation of Western PA |
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