#My100Days: Build professional skills in a job or internship
Every year, CGS students share their gap semester experiences with us through the hashtag #My100Days. For many students, the gap semester is a chance to develop professional skills by interning or working. From internships at corporations and nonprofits to jobs in their hometown, here are some ways students learned on the job during their gap semester.
Lynna Sato
Lynna Sato spent her semester working as a digital marketing intern at Mazda North American Operations, as well as taking two courses at a local community college. “My internship gave me hands-on work experience that confirmed my interest in business marketing so that when I did attend BU in the spring, I was certain that this was the direction I wished to pursue,” she says. Her advice for students embarking on their gap semester is to keep yourself busy and motivated, and take the time to explore yourself and your interests.
Katie Manchester
Millie Zhu
Leo Chen
Leo Chen spent his gap semester interning with the SIU School of Law’s Veterans’ Legal Assistance Program, where he helped veterans with VA disability claims appeals and discharge upgrades. “As I began to learn more about the field, I was given more chances to prove myself,” he says. “By the end of my internship, I was writing legal arguments and memos to submit to the military boards.” He advises students to look for an internship in the field they’re passionate about. “Make those connections and get the experience. It’ll be your foundation once you begin studying your major.”
Are you a member of the Class of 2023 who spent your gap semester building professional skills? Email us at cgscomm@bu.edu to share your #My100Days story.