The internships not only gave me hands-on experience in the marketing world but also helped me grow both professionally and personally.
When Addy Hodson, ’23, initially walked into Bridgewater State University’s Career Services, she was looking for help with her resume. That small step turned into multiple internships that eventually led to her being accepted into the master’s sports management program at Georgetown University.
Addy is set to start her studies at Georgetown after she graduates from Bridgewater State University this year with a degree in marketing.
“The first time you reach out (to Career Services) it can be daunting, you might not know what you want to do,” Addy said. “But once you have that first meeting you realize they are invested in your success.”
Prior to coming to Bridgewater, and at the height of the COVID pandemic, Addy was enrolled at a college in New Hampshire. After her freshman year, she determined it wasn’t the right fit and wanted to be closer to her home and family in Norwood.
After exploring various options, she applied to and was accepted at Bridgewater State.
“BSU was more affordable and had more course offerings,” Addy said. “I was still confused about my major, but Bridgewater helped me figure out the path that was right for me.”
Career Services was a great source of support, she said.
After that first visit for resume assistance, Addy was encouraged to apply for a local marketing internship. She was hired and found herself doing general marketing sales and administrative work that included blogging and social media maintenance.
The experience inspired her to see what else she could learn outside of the classroom.
When Diane Bell, acting vice president of outreach and engagement, recommended Addy for the Washington Center for Internship and Academic Seminars Program, she jumped at the opportunity.
The non-profit organization offers academic and professional opportunities for college students and recent graduates from all over the world. Through the Washington D.C.-based program, Addy secured a public affairs internship with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. She worked in internal communications, attended events, wrote newsletters, and performed news-tracking duties.
“The program really propelled me and helped me define what path or industry I wanted to work in. It was a huge step in my progress,” she said.
Still wanting to learn more, Addy then secured an internship working for a local multimedia company, where she was involved with videography, photography, blog writing, media scanning, social media marketing and sports information.
Each internship has helped her grow and gain more and more experience.
The different experiences also helped build confidence, so much so that she will now continue her education at Georgetown this fall where she won’t just be participating in the sports management graduate program but also playing rugby.
“The internships not only gave me hands-on experience in the marketing world but also helped me grow both professionally and personally,” Addy said. “But what I think really helped me was making connections and building a network. I’m looking forward to grad school over the next two years and plan to get the most out of it.”
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