Deja is a Nonprofit and NGO Studies major at Northern Illinois University. She serves as an intern with Girls on the Run – Northwest Illinois as part of the Internship Program.

Q: What project(s) are you working on as an intern?

Deja: The title of my position is the Community Outreach and Marketing Intern. My projects include coaching for GOTR, creating a marketing plan for camp GOTR, and analyzing the existing camps in the DeKalb area to make comparisons.

Q: What is the biggest benefit and/or the best part of your internship experience?

Deja: My favorite part of the GOTR internship is coaching, because the girls are always super enthused and I feel like this program is significant. My other favorite part is doing research for camp GOTR because I think researching is fun and I like ‘going down rabbit holes.’ The biggest benefit is the pure excitement that the GOTR girls bring to every practice. Not only do they seem to look forward to it, but they are also really focused and make connections to the previous trainings. Furthermore, the GOTR girls talk about their school experiences and how they can utilize GOTR training in the future during these situations.

Q: In your opinion, why should students pursue internship opportunities?

Deja: Students should pursue internship opportunities because no matter how much education you have, experience is what really gets you in the door. Education combined with experience, especially as a young adult, might make you much more unique than the average applicant.

Q: Please share any additional comments you have about your internship experience. 

Deja: The Internship Program is honestly priceless and has given me amazing opportunities that I otherwise may not have had. Thank you to the Roberts Family Foundation!

The Internship Program is a collaboration between the DeKalb County Nonprofit Partnership, the Center for Nonprofit and NGO Studies, and Career Services at Northern Illinois University, supported by the Douglas C. and Lynn M. Roberts Family Foundation.