Student Spotlight | Romina Santoro

Being an intern for O, Miami gave me a glimpse into the backstage of the independent publishing industry, teaching me how projects are planned, managed, and performed; how tasks are distributed among team members to meet deadlines; and how organizations—not merely individuals—collaborate and network among one another. In the classroom, we learn the theory behind our majors, and the closest we usually get to experiencing the real world from our desks is by asking our professors about their experience. An internship does the complete opposite; it opens the doors into the real world for you to let you make your own experience while you still have the guidance and support of your professors.

The short answer is that internships give you valuable work experience that can help you become a better candidate once you enter the job market. Yet there is so much more to that. In an internship, you’re constantly learning on the go with every new task that arrives, which not only helps you build a practical skillset different from what you’d typically use in the classroom but also gives you room to explore your professional interests in the real world. That's a great way to get a head start on your career before you even have your diploma.

First of all, always remember that your mental health is your most valuable asset, so do not overwork yourself. If you have the time and the headspace to become a better-rounded version of yourself, though, take the opportunity. You’ll get to show up for tasks you never imagined performing, so stay open to growing in different (and often unexpected) ways, and make every experience worth your time by finding what makes it meaningful to you. Most importantly, be authentic to yourself and trust the process. If you’re thinking of doing an internship, you’re already on the right path.

Absolutely. As an intern, not only did I get to meet—and learn directly from—the O, Miami team, but I also got to network during our events and get a feel for what the professional publishing environment is really like. I connected to people and organizations that I would never have met if I had stayed within the confines of the classroom. Having the opportunity to speak with professionals in my field and connect what I learned to my own experience opened new career paths for me as I prepare for graduate school and what comes after.

I’d say it was central to my education. Yes, I had already been involved in student organizations, community service, and even some side jobs, yet none of these experiences gave me exactly what my internship did. It integrated much of what I had already been doing into a greater whole—whether it was pitching a new project at a networking event or creating my own rubric while evaluating literary submissions. I quickly noticed that my internship also went hand in hand with my classes, as what I was learning inside and outside the classroom often informed each other. To be good at whatever your field is, you can’t stay only in the realm of theory. Internships provide you with real-world experience, and that's precisely why they can be so helpful.