Sophie Torres
For many students, the path from classroom learning to professional work can feel opaque, even overwhelming. In this new series, senior Sophie Torres pulls back the curtain.
Over three articles, Sophie will take us behind-the-scenes of her experience in the Publishing Certificate Program (PCP) and the Humanities Internship Program at CCNY, offering an honest, step-by-step look at what it takes to secure and succeed in a competitive internship. Sophie is currently interning at PEN America for the full Spring semester and will be giving us updates along the way. Enjoy this first installation of her internship journey!
When I applied to college as a sprightly seventeen-year-old, I had no idea what I was doing—as is usual for most seventeen-year-olds. I applied to CCNY because it was a CUNY school, and in my sporadic research I found that it was much cheaper than any other options that could take me outside of Florida. Not long after I had been accepted and committed for enrollment, I was packing my childhood belongings into U-Haul boxes. If what I wanted was a push, then I certainly got it.
The years that ensued were a chaotic mashing of growing into adulthood while still making mistakes and having the most fun a newly twenty-year-old can have. Like many of my peers, I began my freshman year undecided; in more senses than just my major. However, I was pleased to find that sometimes even when you think nothing could go right—sometimes especially when you think nothing could go right—you fall exactly where you were meant to. I walked out of my freshman year an English major, and I walked out of sophomore year as part of the Publishing Certificate Program (PCP).
I had already known that the final requirement in PCP is an internship in the industry, so I’m not sure why it took me by such surprise when the head of the program, Athena Devlin, stepped into my English class the first semester of Senior year. She came mostly to talk to prospective PCP students, however, she slipped in a reminder for upcoming and current Seniors that if we hadn't yet applied for Spring internships we should do so ASAP. Immediately after class I scoured my inbox for any and all information regarding internship applications; looking through the slew of emails felt like a job in and of itself. To my utter disappointment, all but two internship deadlines had passed, and so with little hope I started the dreaded “internship process.”
I had heard of this process from ambitious friends who had applied for many internships and fellowships throughout our four years in college; I felt late to the game. During some more email ransacking, I came across an internship opportunity with a non-profit called PEN America. While not a direct publishing house, they are known in the industry as “publishing adjacent,” meaning they don't publish titles the way Simon & Schuster or Penguin Random House would. They are an organization that works to defend writers, artists, and journalists and protect free expression worldwide. So, while they don't produce physical books themselves, they work directly with authors and outside publishers. The role available would be within their prison and justice writing program, which intrigued me. The program seemed very different from the other publishing opportunities the PCP had previously offered. This division of PEN works directly with incarcerated writers, publishing their work in an annual anthology and offering cash prizes for top winners. As if the position didn't seem enticing enough, it is funded by CCNY’s Division of Humanities Internship Program. Because of this, the position was reserved for only CCNY students, which provided me with a beacon of hope. In order to apply I had to first meet with the Director of Humanities Internships, Dr. Marisa Hollywood.
I went into my interview with Marisa not knowing exactly what to say. My resume consisted of experience in waitressing and lifeguarding. My special skills were an ugly mashing of CPR and customer service. I asked myself: How the hell was I supposed to land an office job? So, in my truest fashion, I marched on in, and I asked her exactly that. I divulged every question and concern I could, while still trying my absolute best to appear “professional.” Her reaction really surprised me. She assured me that companies don't expect you to have years of experience as an intern. They view waitressing experience as a skill in communication and problem-solving. The main takeaway I got from this meeting was that when hiring for internship positions, companies just want to know that you are willing and able to learn.
Despite Marisa’s warm introduction to the process, there were still quite a few things I needed to do before I was out of the danger zone. If you have ever held a job of any kind you most likely have a resume. Adjusting your resume for an internship is possibly the easiest step of the process. You most likely just need to add relevant coursework, campus involvement, and any awards you received during your time in undergrad. More frustrating will be the formatting stage of resume revision. Get ready to familiarize yourself with Microsoft Word! A bit more frustrating than the resume formatting phase will be the writing of your cover letter. The basis of this document is practically to market yourself towards the role you are applying for. The truth is, once you get over the sheer fear of having to draft four small paragraphs boasting about yourself, it’s not that difficult. What helped me was specifying the sections of the letter; the first section read like a bio, where I simply explained who I am, where I’m from, and where I’ve been. The second and third were tailored to experiences I’ve had in both classes and work that relate to the work listed on the application. Finally, the last paragraph was about the company itself and how I would add and contribute to it. Once those things were done and Marisa gave me the green light, the only thing left to do was wait.
Less than a week after I submitted my application, someone from PEN reached out to offer an interview. This was when I truly began to see the light at the end of the tunnel. They asked me about 10 questions, ranging from how I stay organized to how familiar I am with criminal justice and incarceration in the United States. Thankfully, the meeting went well and I left feeling much more confident than I had been a mere month ago. At the end of the interview, they informed me that if I had gotten the position they would contact me next week. Which is why when over two weeks passed I began to grow nauseatingly nervous, swallowing my bitter fate, and cursing myself for not applying sooner. However, in true Christmas-miracle style, I received an email on December 22nd from the woman who would become my supervisor. I opened the email on Outlook and as the first line read “Congratulations!” confetti ran down my computer screen. I may have been more excited than when I was accepted to college.
When I returned to New York after Christmas break, I was thrilled to begin my time at PEN America. The offices are located on Wall Street in a high-rise off Battery Park. I sat up at night thinking about what to wear and whether to address my boss as Ms. or by her first name. But, when my first day came around, and I entered the large building decorated with chandeliers, taking the elevator so high my ears popped, my fear dissipated. I entered the office following hallways lined with books to my very own cubicle, and I knew that I had done it.