Summer Jobs Redefined Each spring, college students must decide how to spend their seemingly endless days of summer break. Many will squander the days away, enjoying the freedom and respite from their studies, and some will take advantage of traditional carefree summer employment. Others will seek internships and opportunities to gain valuable work-related experience that will give them an edge on their peers when they enter the “real world” job market. For several Loyola College students, the summer of 2007 introduced them to unique opportunities and life-altering experiences. Living life to the fullest all summer long
Entertaining pint-sized guests as Big Bird at Pennsylvania’s Sesame Place at 15 was the closest thing John Nagib, ’08, has ever had to a traditional summer job. Now, at age 20, Nagib’s summer vita includes a study abroad in Thailand, outdoor adventures in the Southwestern United States and a mission to Africa. Last summer’s journey to Thailand ignited his interest in international travel, so when the priest at his church approached him about a three-week mission trip to Africa this summer, Nagib started packing. “We tend to live in our own bubble,” he says. “Africa gave me the opportunity to see beyond my bubble and stretch a little.” Nagib, whose parents were born in Egypt, drives to Fairfax, VA to worship at a Coptic Orthodox church. He and nineteen other youths and priests traveled to Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to evangelize. The group spent time at an orphanage and visited compounds of malnourished and desolate people of all ages. Three weeks in a developing country may be enough summer adventure for some, but not for Nagib, a history and political science major minoring in secondary education. An Eagle Scout and 15-year member of Boy Scouts of America, Nagib spent the remainder of his summer teaching young boys outdoor skills like mountain biking and kayaking at Maryland’s Camp Rodney, which hosts a weeklong camp for 4,000 scouts. He also participated in a 21-day trip to New Mexico which presented an “Amazing Race” style outdoor adventure at the foot of the Rocky Mountains for young adult leaders. The rigorous experience included 27-mile hikes, vertical climbs and days of solitude in the forest. “It was the summer of a lifetime,” says Nagib, who is looking forward to more post-graduation service opportunities in which he can be physically, mentally and spiritually challenged while helping those in need. “There’s so much of the world to see and so much to do that every summer should be an opportunity to live life to the fullest.”
Internship gives student insight into parents’ immigration
In 1985, Perry and Bernadette Nwanguma emigrated from Nigeria to the United States with hopes of achieving a better life. This summer, their daughter Belinda Nwanguma had a unique opportunity to work at the Maryland Office for New Americans (MONA) and experience firsthand the challenges her parents faced in the process of becoming American citizens.
Nwanguma, a senior political science major, was encouraged by her political science professor to apply for the 2007 Governor’s Summer Internship Program and investigate a job at MONA. The agency provides support and services to refugees to ease their transition into American society and serves as a resource to the governor and general assembly on refugee and immigrant policy. “I knew this would be a perfect internship for me,” says Nwanguma, who wants to be an international lawyer. “I was able to gain knowledge about the immigration process and appreciate the obstacles my parents overcame to become U.S. citizens.” A summer Resident Assistant, Nwanguma lived on campus and commuted a short distance to the MONA office in downtown Baltimore where she worked 40 hours a week for a stipend. Her responsibilities included co-coordinating the monthly refugee and asylee workshops and attending bi-monthly meetings between state and private agencies. She also helped asylees complete their immigration forms, an experience which she says was empowering. “I got to work with clients one-on-one and discover what happened in their homeland that forced them to seek refuge in the United States,” says Nwanguma. “It was an amazing experience that reinforced my passion for serving others. It allowed me to take my ideas and notions out of the classroom setting and apply them to the real world. It gave me a strong foundation toward my life’s dream.” Nwanguma, completed her internship and immediately boarded a plane to Alcala, Spain, where she is currently participating in the study abroad program, polishing her Spanish-speaking skills and exploring more international cultures. Read more about summer internships. Summer job not par for the course
Spending long days on the links sounds like an opportune summer job for a Division I golf standout; however, this year’s internship with the United States Golf Association (USGA) was anything but fun and games for Chris Derby. A senior co-captain for the Loyola Greyhounds golf team, Derby has spent the past six summers in self-described “easy” golf course jobs, but he says this year was the hardest he’s ever worked. As a participant in the P.J. Boatwright Internship Program, Derby arose at the crack of dawn most mornings and worked rigorously through dusk facilitating nearly 20 amateur golf tournaments around Maryland. His duties included coordinating administrative tasks, overseeing volunteers, officiating rules and managing overall tournament facilitation. A golfer since age 12, Derby’s keen knowledge of the game earned him respect and greater responsibilities. “I’ve been playing golf for a long time, and I have been to many tournaments, so I was able to predict what the players needed and was able to prepare for what they expected,” says Derby. Besides learning to appreciate the cool, pre-dawn hours of the summer, Derby learned a lot about responsibility. “There were so many people relying on me and my co-workers to show up on time and get things in place. The players expected a good tournament, and they counted on me to ensure that things were done right,” he says. Perhaps the most difficult part of the internship, according to Derby, was not being able to play the courses. A leader for the Greyhounds, Derby posted four Top-10 finishes last season and will be a key player on this year’s team which recently ranked among the Top 100 golf programs in the country by Golf Digest. A marketing major, Derby hopes to put his sports knowledge and classroom experience to work in a sports marketing position for an organization such as the PGA. But before he heads off to a professional job, Derby intends on returning to a few of those amateur tournament courses next summer – this time, as a player. Read more about the Greyhounds Golf Team.
Summer service position pays lifelong dividends
Two years ago, Justin White. ’09, was walking in the business district in downtown Baltimore when he noticed a bench with a pipe wedged into its middle section. He was told that the pipe prevented people from sleeping on the bench. The thought of someone considering people to be litter, says White, sparked his passion to comit his summer, and his future, to community service.
SumServe, a program coordinated by Loyola’s Center for Community Service and Justice (CCSJ), is a summer program that places students in agencies throughout Baltimore for a 10-week internship. White, who has been active in CCSJ for the past three years, was attracted to the SumServe opportunity because it offered a chance to witness service from the perspective of a full-time employee rather than his ususal volunteer role. “It was the best educational experience I have ever had,” says White. “It put everything I’ve learned into practice on the front lines of service.”
A sociology major, White spent his summer at Beans & Bread, an outreach center for the homeless and marginalized in Baltimore. He assisted with the volunteer meal program, worked with the transitional housing center and performed case work for the outreach center. His one-on-one work with clients confirmed his desire to work with people in need for the rest of his life.
“Adults were coming to me for solutions and advice,” says White. “I’m 19 years old. It was empowering to know that they trusted me. It gave me a huge boost of confidence, and it made me realize that this is my calling.” The paid internship included free on-campus housing for the summer and also allowed the SumServe students a chance to participate in weekly workshops and three retreats, expanding the scope of the experience beyond a summer job. “I was introduced to issues and people that have helped me learn and think more deeply about service and justice in the world,” explains White, who says the educational training he received this summer and throughout his college career has developed him into an advocate for social justice and community service, a role he will continue playing throughout his life. Read more about SumServe.
Classes abroad provide unique summer experience
Contrary to what most twenty-something’s might believe, studying during the summer can be fun, especially when classes are held in Prague, Czech Republic. Alice Drayfahl, ’08, leapt at the opportunity to spend a month abroad this summer, even if it meant attending classes five hours each day.
A communications major, Drayfahl had never ventured overseas and knew nothing about the Czech Republic. “I hadn't really understood anything about [Czech] communism, art or architecture until now,” says Drayfahl. “I know that I can take what I learned from the program in Prague and use it to shape my life and understanding about the world around me." She and 10 Loyola students who accompanied her on the trip took Christian Ethics and Czech Culture classes while they were abroad. Prague, which was under communist rule until 1989, presented the students with a living history lesson through architectural walks and historic tours. “It was like living and walking history,” Drayfahl says. “After studying about communism, it made me feel fortunate to live in a democratic country.” The group also experienced a theater performance in the round and spent a weekend with a family in the farmlands. In her free time, she and several students took train excursions to Germany, Austria, Hungary and Croatia. The month long summer Study Abroad program fees included credits for the courses, breakfast each day, several dinners and housing at Charles University in Prague. Numerous Study Abroad opportunities are offered to students during their second and third year at Loyola College, with more than fifty percent of students choosing to participate. A popular attraction in Prague is the Charles Bridge, which is adorned with statues of 30 Saints. It is a tradition for visitors to touch the statue of St. John of Nepomuk, as it is believed to bring good fortune and ensure a return trip to the capital city. Drayfahl took part in the tradition, in hopes that she would have the opportunity to return to Prague in the near future. Summer Opportunity Resources
There are many resources on campus that can assist students in finding employment during the summer as well as the school year. The Career Center provides students with job listings off campus as well as internship opportunities across the region. On-campus employment listings for students can be found on the Human Resources Web site. “It’s becoming increasingly critical for students to get more practical experience while they are in college,” says Julia Galeazzi, assistant director of The Career Center. “It doesn’t matter what the job is, it’s the professional and life skills the students are acquiring that employers are looking for.”
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