Senior Erin O’Brien is a driven young woman who has achieved great things. Not only did she intern for the TODAY Show in New York last spring, she is also very involved on campus. O’Brien is the President of DePauwCappella, the Multimedia Editor of The DePauw, an anchor on D3TV’s The Source, and a sister of Alpha Chi Omega. She is also apart of the Media Fellows Program and Information Technology Associates Program.
Her Campus: So Erin, tell us a little bit about what you did in New York?
Erin O’Brien: I spent last spring semester living in New York City, doing my Media Fellows internship at the TODAY Show. I worked full-time but also got to enjoy the city!
HC: New York City is very different than living in Greencastle. What was the best part about living there?
EO: It’s hard to pick just one thing! I loved the diversity– of people, of architecture, of restaurants, of things to do, of stores, of everything. It’s a lot to take in and despite living there for almost five months I know I still didn’t see it all!
HC: What did you do for fun in New York?
EO: I tried to soak up as many classic New York City experiences as possible! I visited all the big tourist attractions, saw a couple Broadway shows, tried a lot of new restaurants, and so much more. I loved window-shopping at all the fancy 5th Avenue stores. I visited the new Cupcake ATM probably a few too many times. Central Park in the springtime is beautiful.
HC: Deciding to spend a semester off campus is a hard decision. What made you choose to do it?
EO: I knew that this experience would be beneficial to me in so many ways. My internship would help me learn about the broadcast journalism industry and grow professionally. Living in a city so unfamiliar to me and so different from where I grew up would also help me grow and mature.
HC: What was the hardest part about being away from campus?
EO: The hardest part was knowing that so many fun things were still happening on campus and that I was missing it all. Recruitment, Little 5, formals, DePauwCappella concert. I missed making memories with friends back home, but I met some really great people at my internship.
HC: What do you think the best part was when TODAY show?
EO: I loved seeing so many celebrities behind the scenes. I saw everyone from Zac Efron to Enrique Iglesias to Liza Minelli to Daniel Radcliffe to Lady Gaga and many more. I talked to Joan Rivers and bumped into Hulk Hogan. I took a selfie with the Rembrandts. The show’s anchors were also incredibly nice!
HC: What was your biggest take away from your experience at the TODAY show?
EO: I was so surprised at how much goes into producing each day’s show. The TODAY Show is a huge organization and everyone’s job is important. It’s a fast-paced environment and everyone works hard.
HC: Do you have any for someone considering spending a semester off campus?
EO: My advice would be to take advantage of every opportunity and make the most of your time away from campus!