Rayne Wilson

Major: Political Science

Baileys Summer Trail Crew Member at Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia through AmeriCorps and RuralAction

How did you learn about this internship opportunity?

I was in contact with a friend who was already serving with AmeriCorps in this location and she sent me the applications when they opened.

What is a piece of advice you would give someone in your major looking for an internship?

Be willing to take on opportunities that may be outside of your area of interest. You may make new connections or build skills that can be applied to your future work.

What key responsibilities or projects have you taken on during your internship?

My team has been doing trail maintenance for the Baileys Trail System, located in Wayne National Forest in Ohio. We have done sign installation, drainage shaping, ajd brushing for the 88 miles of trails.

How has your internship helped build your skills and clarify your career goals? How did being a Liberal Arts student at Purdue apply to your internship?

This experience was almost entirely field-based; as someone interested in an environmental fieldwork career, I was introduced to the challenges that arise in this field of work. For example, heat waves and storms were some issues my crew was faced with. I learned how to overcome these obstacles by staying aware of my surroundings, setting a working pace that accommodated my physical needs, and identifying tasks that could be worked on in the event of us being rained out. As a Liberal Arts student, I was able to recognize the role that federal and local governments play in the success of environmental-based organizations. I was also able to see how much of an impact community efforts have on the outcomes of local legislation.

In what ways has the College of Liberal Arts at Purdue University supported your internship journey? How has your participation in our Job-Ready program specifically aided your professional development?

In order to accept this summer service term, I had to find summer housing. While I did not want to pass up this opportunity, the cost of relocation would been a financial strain. As a CLA student, I was enrolled in the SCLA 300 course. This course allowed me to not only make new connections with other Liberal Arts alumni, but it also informed me of the Job-Ready program. This award allowed me to relocate and accept this offer, something which may not have been possible if I was not a CLA student.

Could you highlight a standout aspect of your experience in the Job-Ready program that you find particularly noteworthy?

Towards the end of my service term, I was given the opportunity to do an Instagram takeover for the College of Liberal Arts page. This allowed me to show followers what I do on a day-to-day basis, as well as discuss how the Job-Ready program helped make my summer possible. I found this to be noteworthy as my field is not typically one that people would think of when seeing a Political Science student. The Instagram takeover allowed me to introduce viewers into a field they may not be as knowledgeable about, and also allowed for the Baileys Trail System to get more exposure to individuals across the country.