Name: Paloma Sharangpani
Class Year: 2024
Major: Literatures in English
Hometown: Olympia, WA
Internship Organization: Amadeus International School Vienna
Job Title: Marketing Intern
Location: Vienna, Austria
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
I'm working for the Amadeus School, an international IB school that has a strong music program. At the end of June, the school hosts the Amadeus Music Festival, which showcases performances of classical music alongside competitions and workshops. I work in the marketing team, developing promotional material for the school and the festival, coordinating events, doing administrative work, and pitching in to manage the general chaos and fun of putting on such a huge event.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I applied through IES, a program that matches students with an internship abroad. When I first applied, I actually had no idea where I would be working! I knew I wanted to live in Vienna because I visited Austria last summer and really loved it. Because I love writing and music, Amadeus ended up being a great fit.
Was there anything special about how you found this internship?
I applied through the Career and Civic Engagement Center, but it did feel strange to go into interning abroad blind, with no idea of where I would end up working! Because there are also so many different components to running a school and a festival, I had no idea where I would end up being useful. It really taught me to improvise and figure things out as they arise.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
I really enjoyed being thrown into the chaos of event management, which I had little experience with, and learning by doing. The team at AMADEUS has some of the coolest and funniest people I've ever worked with. My supervisors are all lovely and made the interns feel so welcome. We've gotten to bond and spend time together outside of work, and the sense of community has been so vital during the long days.
What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn't expect?
I learned that the most fun jobs don't have strictly set tasks. Technically I worked in the marketing department, but I also spent hours blowing up balloons and hanging signs, co-wrote a short play for children, drafted emails, designed posters, acted as a stagehand, chaperone, guide, bartender, and what felt like a million jobs in one. I spent my entire internship in unexpected and rewarding roles, and I learned that I love work that is constantly changing. The only way to get experience is to just try something, even when it's daunting and I felt a little lost. I'm excited to throw myself into more new experiences, and I can now trust that I'll learn as I go.
Can you talk about the skills you are learning and why they are important to you?
The most crucial skills I learned were planning and proper communication. When a team is putting on an event as big as a four-day music festival, there are a thousand details to account for. People are scattered all across the school grounds, and learning to keep in contact, ask for clarification, and reach out for help when overwhelmed was crucial. Because marketing and festival management was new to me, I was constantly checking in with supervisors, adjusting my work and coordinating with others on tasks. I was amazed at what our small team could pull off when we worked together and coordinated well.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship?
Working abroad in a hospitality role was a struggle because I'm not used to managing large groups of people, especially through a language barrier. I also struggled to be okay with making mistakes, especially with graphic design and other tasks I'm not used to. I'm so grateful that I was placed in unfamiliar roles and settings, though, because that's what spurred the most growth. By the end of the festival, I felt so much more confident in my role, and no task really fazed me.
Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?
Creative, improvisational, detailed.
Joy, music, teamwork.
What is most rewarding about your internship?
My favorite moments were watching the performances and chatting with the audience about how much they loved it. The festival's final event was a violin competition, and the winner played a gorgeous piece on a Stradivarius violin. It was during her performance that I realized how many hours, emails, spreadsheets, and meetings had culminated to create such beautiful moments. I felt so proud of what we'd achieved.
Visit the Summer Internship Stories page to read more about student internship experiences.