Alternative summer plans

    Students preparing to graduate or looking for a summer job are undoubtedly worried about the current economic situation. Companies are experiencing more budget cuts and layoffs, and the national unemployment rate continues to rise, but students need not panic. 
    As the end of the semester nears, students should not fret over summer employment this summer; instead, students could follow the leading example set by sophomore Sarah Deringer. 
    Deringer, a Secondary  English Education major from Paoli, Ind., will intern at Paoli Public Library in her hometown.
    Deringer said she sent her resume to the library even though they were not offering an internship position at the time. 
    Deringer’s persistence and willingness to work for free prompted the library to create a position for her. 
    Networking paid off for her as well.    
    She said she spoke to a fellow church member on the library board, who put in a good word for her. 
    Deringer said she wants to be a high school librarian, and working at a library will provide her with experience in her chosen field as well as an important addition to her resume.
    “It sounds like something fun to do over the summer instead of sitting at home cleaning house for my parents, which is what I would normally do,” Deringer said. “There aren’t that many jobs in Paoli, especially in the summer.”
    Deringer offered advice to other students looking for internships.
    The current economic recession may make for fewer internships, but according to Deringer, they are still attainable  if you’re willing to push for them. 
    “Work on your resume, and be open-minded to different opportunities,” Deringer said ”Students should be willing to work in unpopular jobs and for lower wages in order to gain valuable experience.”  
    Cori Heintzelman, junior Secondary English Education major from Louisville, Ky., said she has been offered internships after attending job fairs, but plans to remain in Murray and take classes to complete her degree sooner.      Heintzelman said the economic recession has created fear and rumors of the lack of jobs available, but students have to be persistent when it comes to finding an opportunity. 
    “I think that if someone really wanted an internship there is not much stopping them,” Heintzelman said.  “Sometimes people lack the initiative to go out and get them.”
    Heintzelman said she knows several people interning this summer.  She said they simply had to put in the effort and work to find those internships and apply for them. 
    Brittany Andrews can be reached at brittany. andrews@murraystate.edu.

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