"When do you hear about your internship? Did you get it?"
They're the questions people have asked me almost daily since I learned I was one of ten nationwide finalists for the Sierra Club's Best Internship on Earth.
I heard about this internship opportunity with the Sierra Club, an environmental organization dedicated to helping the environment, during spring break last year. One lucky individual will be picked as the Outdoor Youth Ambassador. That person will go camping, hiking, white-water rafting and also maintain a video blog highlighting these cool adventures over the two-month internship. It really did sound like the best internship on Earth.
However in the past few months, I've also been thinking a lot about my declaring a major related to my passion for all things media. Just applying for this internship has showed me new ways to think about the potential and power of social media.
In my two years on campus, I've noticed that social media is frequently mentioned by my classmates and teachers in many different facets of conversation. "Blah, blah, blah role of social media, Twitter, Facebook, blah, blah, blah…" Like most students, I have these sites bookmarked on my browser. Beyond updating my status, uploading and looking through photos, sharing random website links and keeping in touch with friends, I don't really take much time to analyze the "role" social media plays in my life.
Applicants created a minute-and-a-half-long video proving to the Sierra Club that they have what it takes to be the next intern. So, 72 days ago, I uploaded my own submission video to YouTube hoping to be selected. While I was excited to be applying, I didn't think much of it.
On Wednesday, April 7, I learned that I was one of the top 25 semifinalists for the internship out of the 200-plus people that applied. Since the judges had already sifted through all of the applicants, they wanted to open up the 25 videos for outside comments. As a semifinalist, I was encouraged to share my link with anyone and everyone so the judges could see which candidates were excited about the position and also understood social media.
Aware that most people don't spend their precious weekend time online, I waited until Sunday evening to start spreading the news. I then proceeded to spend the next three and a half hours on Facebook, writing over 40 personalized wall posts asking both new and old friends to view my video and then share the link with their friends. I never thought I'd make "spend time on Facebook" a priority on my to-do list.
By April 13, I had sent over 30 emails and 90 personalized wall posts about my internship application. While I spent countless hours online networking, I was overwhelmed by how quickly everyone responded. Roughly two weeks after being named a semifinalist, my video had received 300 comments — ranging from DePauw students to high school friends to family members to friends of friends. I was, and still am, flattered that so many people would take time to follow the link and leave a comment.
The Sierra Club took note of the number of comments, too. On April 26, I tweeted and then updated my Facebook status announcing that I had made it to the finalist round of applicants. In just minutes, friends started to "like" my status and send me congratulations via Twitter. Like I said, it was overwhelming.
Three months ago, I would have scoffed if you mentioned the phrase "the power of social media." Now, I have nothing but good things to say about these networking sites. They absorb more of my time than I want to admit, but they provide countless benefits. I've been able to reconnect with old friends and teachers and shared many great laughs, memories and updated details about our lives.
The opportunity has also developed for me to spend the fall semester using those social media skills for the United Nation's World Food Program in Rome. Having seen the power to social media – I can hardly wait to start tweeting, blogging and facebookin. Stay tuned!
As for this summer, well, I just heard that I didn't get spot with the Sierra Club. Instead, I'll be interning with the Salt Lake Tribune fine-tuning those other media skills that I hope to use in my career someday of photography, writing and design.
— Distler is a sophomore from Fort Wayne, Ind., majoring in earth science. She is a Media Fellow. opinion@thedepauw.com