Though social distancing protocols during the pandemic changed the look of Luise Hauptmann’s internship with the Tarrant Literacy Coalition, they haven’t limited the impact of her experience.
“Coming into TCU, I didn’t have any idea of what I wanted to be after graduation, so getting a foot into the world of employment has been an invaluable experience,” said Hauptmann, a junior political science/women and gender studies double major from Waxahachie. “Furthermore, it brings me a lot of joy to see just how my work influences the lives of fellow Tarrant County residents in a positive way. Adult education is important because it leads to better outcomes in all areas of a person’s life.”
A marketing and programming intern, Hauptmann creates posters, emails and lawn signs as well as helps design programming for Tarrant Literacy Coalition’s students — all virtually from her Fort Worth apartment.
“I have conducted interviews over Zoom with various volunteers, and I have created a quarterly newsletter that goes out to donors. Basically, if there is a need, I will figure out how to get it done,” she said. “I definitely think of myself as a jack of all trades, so it has been very fun having a variety of ever-changing tasks. Though I haven’t been able to meet with any students face-to-face due to COVID-19, it motivates me to know I am facilitating something positive in someone’s life.”
Of course the virtual environment isn’t without its challenges.
“With the reduced semester, I have found that a lot of assignments and tasks tend to pile up, and it can be difficult to find motivation when every day feels the same,” Hauptmann said. “I have overcome this challenge by switching up my routine and taking a break from my computer to go for a walk every afternoon.”
She also has learned that it’s OK to ask for help.
“This semester in particular has been hard on everyone, and sometimes you just need to step back and ask for help,” she said. “I am very grateful for everyone at Tarrant Literacy Coalition who has lent me a hand in the past few months, as well as my friends who will take a second look at an article I’m writing for the newsletter.”
More opportunities with virtual internships
This semester, many of the TCU Center for Career & Professional Development’s employer partners updated their program offerings to include virtual internship options, which enabled more students to work an internship into their fall schedules, said Mike Caldwell, executive director. “In the past, with on-site internships, other factors may have prevented students from gaining additional experience during the academic semester, such as travel times, access to transportation, class and other work schedules. Virtual experiences often offer additional flexibility and may not be location dependent.”
For the fall semester, the center saw an increase in the number of applications for internship funding support for unpaid and low-paid internships. “In collaboration with the Office of Scholarships & Student Financial Aid, we were able to offer $41,000 in internship funding support for 33 students,” Caldwell said.
In another virtual success story, the center hosted its Fall Career & Internship Expo in an online format — a first. “For that event, 108 employers attended and 2,180 unique student-employer interactions were facilitated over the span of four hours,” he said.
In addition, the center has offered or facilitated access to more than 360 employer events and workshops since the summer, and its consultants and staff completed more than 1,200 one-on-one advising meetings with students and alumni.
“Our priority is helping students and employers connect, engage and develop impactful, inclusive workplaces,” Caldwell said. “Students have landed outstanding jobs and internships in the midst of a pandemic and economic roller coaster. The past six months have created a very challenging job market, but we know that TCU students and alumni are career-ready!”