Importance of internships for Olivet business major Annah Schick

2018 Jan 26

Two internships gave Olivet Nazarene University senior Annah Schick a giant leap into the professional world.

"Internships are helping me discover what kind of company I want to work for," said Schick, a business major in The McGraw School of Business at Olivet . "I want to work for a company I can believe in, one that matches my goals and passions. I'm learning that I have an interest in nonprofits."

Connections with Olivet alumni helped Schick land an important internship at the beginning of her senior year. As an intern with the Riverside Foundation in Kankakee, Illinois, she gained valuable real world experience, sharpened her people skills and learned more about emotional intelligence.

One of Schick's assignments was coordinating the 36th annual Community Leaders Prayer Breakfast in Kankakee. In planning and presenting this event, she worked closely with the Foundation staff and a committee of six community leaders.

"The breakfast was larger this year than ever before," Schick said. "This was my first experience in event planning. I learned how important details and organizational tools are for hosting a successful event."

Another project Schick coordinated was the Foundation's "Scores for Schools" program to raise money for music education in the local schools. "I definitely built my confidence in making phone calls to people I don't know," she says.

She was also responsible for the "Planned Living" newsletter, the Foundation's quarterly email publication. She generated the content, located the images and designed the communication.

Additionally, Schick is interning as the social media director for Resolution Church in Oswego, Illinois. She discovered this opportunity during Olivet's Internship and Job Fair on campus in February 2017. The variety of responsibilities - online and in the community - is challenging and growing her.

As an Olivet student, Schick belongs to the student chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and is on the competition team. She is also a member of Olivet Enactus.

"I'm excited about graduation in May," she says. "And I love my Olivet experience. But after being in the work environment at the Riverside Foundation, I'm excited to start my career. I'm ready now."