Natalia Martinez
Major: English
Company: NDSU Office of Admission
Position: Admission Counselor and Representative
Location: Fargo, ND
Why did you choose to work for the NDSU Office of Admission?
North Dakota State University has been SO good to me the past four years that I just wanted to tell the world about it. In this position, I was able to combine two of my favorite things into one job: Meeting and talking to new people, and sharing everything that makes NDSU an amazing institution.
How did you find your internship?
I knew the last three people who had this position, so it was a lot of word of mouth.
Why was it beneficial for you to register for credit(s) through the Internship Program?
Registering my internship for credits allowed me to maintain my full-time student status (Access to the Wellness Center, football games, etc) and allowed me to postpone paying back student loans until I actually graduated.
What advice would you give a student who is in the process of applying to an internship?
GO FOR IT! Even if you apply and then decide that it wouldn’t be a good fit for you, it’s worth the experience to put yourself out there.
What was an average day like for you on the job?
About half of the time I would wake up and get to the office at 8 and spend my day taking appointments with prospective families that were interested in NDSU. The other half I would spent driving around MN, WI, ND, and SD, visiting high schools and attending college fairs to talk to prospective students.
What was the most rewarding part of your internship experience?
Visiting new towns I’d never been to and meeting so many new people was amazing, but talking to students who came from similar backgrounds as me (first generation students, minorities, single parent households) was the most rewarding part of this experience. Being able to meet someone and say, “Hey, don’t worry. I was in the exact same position as you and I’ve made it this far. We can do this!” That’s something I’ll never forget.
What was the most challenging part of your job? How did you overcome these obstacles?
Having a full-time job is TOUGH. It was such a transition for me! I’ve never worked more than 20 hours a week, and even in college I rarely had an 8-5 day without a couple pockets of free time along the way. I really had to shift my schedule to balance out the fact that I wasn’t off of work until 5. My planner and my dedication to making sure that I balanced all the different areas of my life are what got me through that semester.
How has your internship shaped your ideas for your career? Has it changed your career path?
Going into this internship, I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I felt like this would be a good fit, but I still wasn’t sure if this was what I was meant to do. Coming out of it, I know without a doubt that this is what I’m made to do. I went in without any real clarity and came out with a defined career path.
Would you recommend having an internship?
Yes! Having an internship gave me real world experience I simply couldn’t get anywhere else. I wasn’t just an ‘intern’, I was another Admission Counselor and member of the Office of Admission’s team. I was treated like a professional, and I’ve never had that kind of responsibility and respect in another job.
