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Augustana student Maria Maman ’25 is a Communication Studies/Business and Economics double major from Jos, Plateau, Nigeria. She will be interning at the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls this summer. Mamaman, who hopes to one day run an international advertising agency, is gaining valuable and hands-on experience as the zoo’s social media and events intern.
Q: What extracurricular activities are you involved in?
A: Last year I was a Student Ambassador for the Business Club and Social Media Manager for the Languages Club. Starting in the fall, I will be an ACE Ambassador, Business Club Marketing Vice President, Augustana International Club Public Relations Manager, Language Club Vice President, African Student Association Event Planner, and Viking Advisor.
Q: What are your career goals/aspirations?
A: One day I hope to own and run my own international advertising agency. I want to travel as much of the world as I can, both professionally and personally. I also plan to invest in a trauma center for women who have been sexually harassed, hoping that we can heal one woman at a time in our efforts to make the world a better place.
Q: Where or how did you hear about Augustana?
Answer: I never thought of living in a place called South Dakota. When I was looking for Augustana College, I decided to check out the university because of their persistence in their emails. After a few conversations with the wonderful International Programs Office (IPO) advisor Heather Reed and a very generous scholarship, I found myself in Sioux Falls.
Q: What is/are the reason(s) you chose to come to Augustana?
A: One thing that made Auggie different from the other colleges I applied to was that I was genuinely interested as an international student. My IPO advisor, Heather Reed, made sure I knew all the benefits of being at Augie. The size of the portions was a big selling point for me. I knew I would get attention, and as a student looking for a college to help her get through, that was all I needed.
Q: What do your job duties include?
A: I am working as a social media and events intern. From walking around the zoo to taking photos and videos of animals for social media, to learning how to make everything look as fun as possible, I’m wondering how much this is of use to the average person. From learning how to adapt every piece of information to different social media platforms and editing cute tiki toks to chalking on the sidewalk and giving information to passersby, every little part works toward one goal. The events of my experience room are not ignored either. Through the fun and exciting events that happen every now and then, I get a glimpse of what it takes to be in an active business, which is more than just holding a desk job.
Q: How did you get the internship? Did anyone help you? What was that trip like?
A: As for my internship search, I simply applied to everything I could get my hands on in my major. Of the offers I returned, Zoo was the best. I never thought I’d work at a zoo, but it’s a job I never knew I needed.
Q: What do you like most about your practice?
A: Working at a zoo means you never run out of content, but the amazing part is how you use that content. With social media workshops and planning days, your mind is stretched to accommodate new ideas. Collecting this essence of animals in their natural forms and different personalities every day often makes my day worthwhile.
Q: What do you hope to learn/achieve from the internship?
A: I hope to gain the critical thinking and organizational skills I need for future jobs and endeavors. From learning how to schedule social media posts to being proactive and attending events, I hope to learn how to effectively expand my skills and knowledge across all platforms. I hope to learn how much more it takes to be part of an efficient business than working at a desk. I hope this internship will improve how I approach everyday problems with critical thinking skills.
Q: Why is experiential learning so important to your future endeavors?
A: Being an intern means being in an educational setting. It sets the precedent for all the work I want to do in the future. Experiential learning combines everything you learn in your major with practical experience. Finally, you will be able to use everything you have learned so far in more than just a hypothetical situation.
Q: How important is building relationships/relationships?
A: Building relationships has always been very important to me. Whether in a business, professional or casual setting, all the relationships I strive to build are long-term. Building relationships with people shows that you have the skills to adapt to any situation you are placed in.
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