Hi, my name is Brianna Buda (everyone calls me Bri)! I am currently a senior Communication Studies student at Chapman University with a minor in Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI). The minor has expanded my interests and broaden my horizons within the creative and cultural industries such as marketing, social media, broadcast journalism, and many other areas. I enjoy being a CCI minor because it is such a broad minor but it has shown me how many different paths I can take when deciding what to do as a career.

With this minor, I have had many opportunities.  My previous internships have been in the field of business specifically in the branch of marketing. I have interned for a marketing department at a bank with the communications director and social media manager and at a small website design company where I was part of the marketing and sales team. However, this semester I decided to go in a completely different direction and dabble in politics. If you would have told me two years ago that I would have enjoyed an internship with a non-profit organization in politics-I would have thought you were crazy.

For my fall semester internship, I had the opportunity to intern with a non-profit organization and political club, The Lincoln Club of Orange County. I was introduced to this company and position from my on-campus involvement when I joined a club. I did not anticipate getting an internship, let alone a job opportunity, from joining an on-campus club. I will forever be grateful for taking that leap of faith my junior year of college and joining a club where I didn’t know a single member and wasn’t quite sure what the club meetings would entail. However, I am very pleased with going out on a limb because, if I didn’t, I would have never landed this internship opportunity or explored my interest in politics. I have learned a lot of useful information, valuable skills that I can incorporate in any career field I choose. I made connections and gained experience. Growing up, my dad always told me “it’s not necessarily what you know, but it who you know that will help carry you in the world.” This has always stuck with me. My experience at Lincoln Club allowed me to attend events and I was introduced to many successful people who will be great contacts to have.

As a student graduating in Spring 2021, I am trying to get as much experience as I can and introduce myself to as many people as possible. I know this internship opportunity for the Lincoln Club did just that. I met people who I consider close friends and individuals who may help open doors for me in my future. I also had the wonderful opportunity to meet people who have served in public office. With this experience, I feel more confident in my abilities to excel in a career after I graduate in the spring.