BY MEGAN FIELDS `17

Embarking on a new job at a new company, never mind an internship, is scary. But being an intern with little-to-no prior experience and with the expectation that you’re going to be amazing right away?

Now that’s even scarier.

My internship with Draper, a Cambridge, Mass.-based nonprofit engineering and technology firm, was the first real position I held where I was focusing on marketing. Although I had worked for Draper before in various administrative roles, being hired as a “plans intern” (as we were called) was the next step toward my future in the marketing field.

As a rising senior at Nichols College—and a marketing major—my internship couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. I was able to fully appreciate the theoretical aspect of my Nichols classroom experience while applying the education to my job. As one of three interns at Draper, I worked with the plans team and the Strategic Communications Department to cover all manner of projects: press releases, event planning, a technical exposition, and the company’s first television commercial broadcast.

Being the new hire in the group was initially nerve-wracking. But after familiarizing myself with every employee and realizing how friendly and accepting everyone was, I relaxed and began to focus on my role within the department. Even though I didn’t have as much experience as the full-time employees, I never lost the feeling that I was an equal to these professionals, and that they saw me in that light.

The personal exposure to the various facets of marketing has made more difficult my efforts to narrow which aspect of the field I want to concentrate in. Having had the opportunity to experience so many new paths to take, however, is worth my temporary indecision. Not only did I walk away from Draper with valid industry experience, I learned more about myself and garnered profound life advice from my coworkers that will guide me to make the decision about to where I should take my next step.

Megan Fields is a Nichols College senior marketing major and psychology minor. She interns for the Nichols College Office of Marketing and Communication.

• Learn more about Nichols College’s marketing programs:
  • Integrated Marketing Communication degree program
  • Communication degree program

BY MEGAN FIELDS `17

As college seniors, we don’t like to think about the world after graduation until someone tells us we’re running out of time. Fears like student loans, paying rent, and saving for retirement all seem like they’re off in a distant future that isn’t ours yet.

That’s, unfortunately, not the case. To help we seniors prepare for the world we aren’t ready to accept yet, the Nichols College Career and Professional Development Center and Student Financial Services collaborated to give students a leg up on these issues. During their Oct. 14, 2016, “Finding Easy Street” program, various presenters from within Nichols, as well as outside contributors, delivered informational sessions to increase our understanding as to what the world will demand of us after Commencement in May.

Lindsay Louis, Nichols assistant director of financial assistance, presented on “Loans After Graduation,” a wake-up call on what we need to know about our student loans, when we need to start paying them, and what happens if we can’t.

Considering 98 percent of students enrolled at Nichols for the 2016-2017 year received some form of financial aid, this is a topic that is applicable to nearly everyone. Of course, none of us want to think about paying off debt to the government and private lenders when we get our first paycheck, but six months down the line from graduation, it’s going to start being a pretty big deal.

Another presentation addressing issues relevant to nearly every student was “Getting Off on the Right Foot,” which was given by Ingrid Adade of Leominster Credit Union. Her session answered the questions: “What bank has the accounts I want?”, “What kind of fees and rates does this bank offer?”, and—perhaps most importantly—“Is my money safe?”

Although most seniors probably dreaded attending these finance-related sessions—especially if you’re like me and have Fridays off—there is no doubt the information provided is useful to anyone about to jump headfirst into the “real world” like we are about to.

Personally, I’m not looking forward to starting to pay off my student loans next year, but since I have to, I want to know what I’m doing. Thanks to this program, I have learned the first steps to take to get in front of my loans, and what I should be looking for in a bank account. These are some of the most important lessons we can learn this close to Commencement.

Megan Fields is a Nichols College senior marketing major and psychology minor. She interns for the Nichols College Office of Marketing and Communications.

BY MEGAN FIELDS ‘17

DUDLEY, Mass.—Oct. 13, 2016—The Nichols Honors Academy (NHA) is celebrating its third year as a cooperative effort between Nichols College and Webster’s Bartlett High School. Over 25 students were inducted Oct. 12 into the Academy on, joining 50 of their elder peers as the third cohort to be accepted to the program.

The partnership between Bartlett and Nichols launched in 2014 and encourages high school students to pursue higher education through an introduction to college-level courses, activities, and responsibilities. Students interested in the NHA undergo an extensive application process before being accepted. This effort to promote the importance of a college education is made possible by the generosity of Nichols Trustee Emeritus Gerald Fels and his wife, Marilyn Fels, of Webster, Mass.

Bartlett Principal Steve Knowlton and Assistant Principal Rebecca Czernicki commented on the success of the program, citing the requirements that every student enrolled will participate in pre-Advanced Placement (AP) classes, and will eventually go on to take at least one AP class by their junior year.

Referring to the NHA as a “social family,” Knowlton praised the program for “endowing the students with motivation and a sense of identity,” as well as a noted increase in students’ time management skills.

The third cohort—Bartlett freshmen—joined the ranks of the Honors Academy with a ceremony on the Nichols campus. This year’s inductees were joined by their predecessors from the 2015 ceremony, who are currently sophomores and in their second year of the Nichols program.

Each new member of the NHA was gifted a new Chromebook from Nichols to aid them in fulfilling their responsibilities and provide the students with full-time access to technology. In addition, members were provided with Nichols College campus photo identification cards, which allow them access to the College library and events.

While the first-year members enjoyed a tour of campus, the sophomores attended a college class on ethics lead by Professor Mauri Pelto, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs and NHA academic coordinator; and Management Professor and Chair Leonard Samborowski.

Pelto, who was behind the initial efforts to conceive the program, gives credit to the students for taking advantage of the opportunity.

“It’s more about learning than it is test taking,” he said. “Learning is what you know well enough to apply, as opposed to just memorizing the information.”

He favors the hands-on approach for guiding the students, allowing them to take charge and gain a rational understanding of their environment.

Bartlett sophomores Summer Lamprey and John Bsoumai of Webster attest to the effectiveness of the NHA.

Lamprey, who plays soccer and participates in show choir, said: “I was encouraged after seeing my older friends who were already in the program, as well as the academic advantages it offered.”

She credits the program with teaching her time management skills that help her participate in activities during the day while staying focused on homework each night.

Bsoumai joined the program for the advantages he felt it gave him to open doors to college and a career.

“It gives me more opportunities than other options,” he said. “And, instead of being scared when I attend college, I will be experienced.”

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