Name: Jessica
Senior
Major: History
Minor: Sociology
CFS Program: Field Studies in Humanities

This quarter I am working with YouthMuse, an amazing organization that helps museums and zoos create programs that engage teens and young adults. This experience has been an amazing introduction to a field that I hope to pursue after graduation. In this position, I help maintain the organization’s website as well as social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. I participate in planning and networking alongside the organization’s director, who has given me valuable exposure into the world of museums and zoos in the Chicago area. I also have the opportunity to meet professionals from around the city, as we often travel for meetings and events.

As a History major and Sociology minor at Northwestern, I have taken some outstanding classes and learned a lot about a variety of cultures and fields. For me, Chicago Field Studies has been a wonderfully seamless transition between my academics and the real world. As a senior, I am gaining invaluable experience in the workforce that will stay with me as I graduate and begin a career. The weekly Chicago Field Studies in Humanities class helps me to connect what I’m doing in the field with concrete lessons surrounding our world.

This experience has also been paramount to my time management skills. In addition to my internship, I am taking one writing-intensive Sociology class, working two days a week at my work-study job, and serving in leadership roles in two student groups. Because of my busy schedule, I have learned how to prioritize my work and create efficient study plans. I have always had a busy schedule, but CFS has helped me to think about time management in a more productive way. This will be a valuable skill as I make a full transition into the working world after graduation.