During her internship, Nina Ocampo sought out feedback for her entrepreneurial pursuits and re-branded her own clothing company.
Why did you choose this internship?
In the beginning, I was contemplating pursuing an internship with an organization or agency such as another professional sports team (I already had previous intern experience with the NBA & NFL). After meeting with Stephanie Springer (the Internship Director) and learning that an entrepreneurship focused internship was possible, I chose to pursue this option. I’m glad I did as I don’t think I would’ve made progress in my entrepreneurial journey if I hadn’t taken the opportunity.
What was the focus of your internship?
My internship was an entrepreneurship-focused internship, which gave me one of the most impactful experiences I’ve had in my academic career. I had just entered the world of entrepreneurship and self-made success when I had started my first ever business previously in July 2020. When I decided to rebrand my clothing line for this internship and found myself not yet complete with my new concept by the end of the semester, I sometimes feel like I failed. However, it’s important to remember that some of the best things can’t be built in a day, and if you truly feel this is something you love to do and what you want to spend your life doing, then you’ll do it.
What advice do you have for other students as they begin their internship?
You’re more capable than you feel. I think being still in college immediately puts us at the bottom of the career climb. We think that because we’re young and relatively less experienced that we don’t have the same ability as someone in their career for decades. But here’s what it comes down to- it’s not time, it’s what you do in that time. Experience shouldn’t be off of how long you’ve been employed, it should be what you do while you’re there. Someone could spend 10 years in a job with no attempt to make something of it, but another person could be a freshly-graduated or current college student and accomplish more in their internship than the other did in the past decade. Never let anyone limit you!