By Michelle Colesanti
Every summer the Osprey Observer welcomes summer interns. They are usually high school or college students looking to either gain some insight into the world of journalism or to just learn about something new and maybe out of their comfort zone. This year four local students were welcomed to work with the Osprey staff. We wish them continued success.
Madeline Sullivan
Madeline Sullivan graduated from Newsome High School after spending her freshman year at Coronado High School in San Diego and sophomore and junior years at Bolton High School in Memphis.
She currently attends the University of South Florida and is majoring in communications with a concentration in culture and media.
Sullivan’s hope after graduation is to continue writing, preferably for a magazine, and to eventually become an editor one day. She also plans on going back to school to become a college professor.
Sullivan said “I really enjoyed interning this summer. Interning has taught me new skills in organization and time management. It has also allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and really get to know people. The deadlines felt challenging at times but it was very rewarding when I turned everything in on time. I have also noticed a big improvement in my writing as well.”
Katelyn Massarelli
Katelyn Massarelli graduated from Bloomingdale High School in 2015 and is now a sophomore attending the University of Tampa as a journalism major.
According to Massarelli, after she graduates from college she hopes to continue throughout her career as a journalist. “Reporting will always be something that I love and enjoy doing,” she noted.
She is hoping to attend graduate school and continue to expand her knowledge on journalism so she can become a professor.
Massarelli said, “My journalism teacher at Bloomingdale and my professors at the University of Tampa have played a huge role in why I want to be a journalist. I want to be able to share my knowledge and experiences with future journalists and help them become successful.”
Massarelli said that interning this summer has made her a more confident reporter. “I was able to step into a professional journalistic setting where I was given positive feedback on my writing. During my internship I was given the opportunity to hear just a few of the many stories that make this community so special and it showed me how much I love being able to share them. I can’t say thank you enough to the Osprey Observer for giving me the opportunity to intern this summer,” she commented.
Jillian Tumlin
Jillian Tumlin graduated from the IB program at Strawberry Crest High School and is now starting her second year at the University of Central Florida, although she is technically a junior because of college credits earned in high school. She is currently a hospitality major.
Tumlin said that she has no plans yet after graduation because life constantly throws curve balls, making it difficult to discern exactly what she wants to do in the future. “I suppose my ultimate hope after graduation is to be satisfied with myself,” Tumlin noted.
Regarding her internship, Tumlin said, “As for my thoughts on interning this summer: it was definitely an unforgettable experience that required me to abandon my anxieties about speaking with strangers in order to acquire new information. Although I was initially nervous about being an intern, I found I grew into it quickly and I am proud of the accomplishments I made.”
Ivy Velazquez
Ivy Velazquez graduated from Newsome High School and currently attends the University of Tampa (UT) majoring in journalism.
Velazquez is also in the ROTC program at UT, so when she graduates from college, she hopes to serve in the National Guard and to have a civilian job as a reporter for a newspaper.
Regarding the summer internship, Velazquez said, “It was a great experience. Everyone at the Osprey Observer was very friendly and helpful throughout my time interning. I feel I was able to learn more about what being a reporter entails and it helped put me out of my comfort zone through the interviews, as that has always been a bit of a weak point for me. I also really enjoyed the opportunities and variety of stories I was able to do; before I’d only ever been on a school newspaper so it was great being able to do local news stories that went beyond what was happening on campus. I’m going to be one of the A&E editors for the paper at UT and I feel that I will be a more capable editor with this experience under my belt.”
