Leadership Alcorn students participate in summer internships
Two students who were a part of one of Alcorn State University’s student organizations are making the best of their summer vacation by expanding their minds.
Sophomores and former members of Leadership Alcorn Joy Applewhite and Dara Robertson accepted internships this summer. Applewhite is studying abroad in Taiwan at the National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei where she will spend the next two months learning the Mandarin Chinese language. Robertson, who was the president of the organization, accepted The Wallace Carver Fellowship internship, which offers high school and college students the opportunity to collaborate with world-renowned scientists and policymakers through paid internships at leading United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) research centers and offices across the nation.
So far, Applewhite is enjoying the challenge of learning a new language and experiencing a culture different from her own.
“My experience as a student in Taiwan has been wonderful,” said Applewhite. “I had no prior experience in the Chinese language, so it has been a completely new journey for me. Mandarin Chinese is an intense language, but once it is mastered, it becomes a language of art. The food here is amazing! The people are so friendly! And living in the world’s second most safe country is comforting.”
Robertson credits her position with Leadership Alcorn for giving her the courage to pursue greatness. She too is pleased with her internship.
“It has been an amazing experience thus far and I am excited to see what all is in store,” said Robertson. “Serving as the president of Leadership Alcorn has prepared me to stand up and lead, pursue my dreams, and to leave a trailblazing mark wherever I go. Greater is in store for me and I cannot wait to see the fruits of my labor.”
The Office of Student Engagement created Leadership Alcorn, which is an organization geared towards offering freshmen leadership development skills and opportunities. The organization’s main focus is to better prepare freshmen for leadership opportunities in capacities such as Student Government Association, Greek life and student ambassadors.