Bonnie Frick, a rising senior communication/history double major in the Anderson University College of Arts and Sciences, is spending her summer working as an Endowment Intern for South Carolina Educational Television (SCETV). After her first week, she was already featured on their website.
Frick wrote a blog post describing the first week of her internship on the SCETV website as “an exciting rush of new places, people and roles to fill.”
Frick knew she wanted to intern at either PBS or SCETV and found the internship application just in time to apply before the deadline passed. She feels blessed that she was selected to be a SCETV Endowment Intern.
“I really enjoy the broadcasting side this internship has allowed me to get,” said Frick, who previously interned at her home church, Riverland Hills Baptist in Columbia. There she produced video content and managed social media, roles that became increasingly important to keeping parishioners connected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Frick loves the sense of accomplishment that comes from a completed video package.
“At the end of the day, making a video that will be published, that type of content … I really enjoy the editing process, watching that all come together. When you lay it out on the computer and you have everything in front of you, at that point most everything is filmed and it’s just a matter of making it what you want. And once that’s out there, once that’s published, it’s a huge weight off your shoulders, but it’s also just a fantastic sense of ‘I made that.’ I know it’s out there and it’s doing what it needs to do,” she said. “It’s a very intentional process of knowing what your goal is and what you have to get done, then using the materials that either you have to go out and film and create or what some body gives you and just work with what you have.”
“Bonnie has what I call contagious enthusiasm,” said Dr. Robert Reeves, assistant professor of communication. “She’s energetic and excited about the things she’s involved with and those around her can’t help but get excited as well.”
Since her SCETV internship started, Frick has traveled to their Lowcountry studios in Beaufort to help shoot “By the River,” an interview show featuring local authors. She has also gained valuable soft skills experience assisting guests for a televised panel discussion in Columbia.
“I was working backstage getting things set up for that and ushering all of the guests to where they needed to be and signing all the forms they needed to sign. It was a great experience and it was very satisfying for me because I just like being in charge of tiny tasks. If they say these people need to be here at this time to sign this form, I can get that done,” she said.
When Frick’s internship ends in August, she’ll return to Anderson University where she will become the new AU chapter president for the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and a resident assistant (RA) in Stringer Residence Hall.
“I am looking forward to her serving as president of AU’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America this coming year,” Reeves said. “As we pull away from the limitations put on us by COVID-19 during the last academic year, our chapter will be able to do a lot more. Bonnie’s leadership will be invaluable.”
Frick shares more of her experiences in her blog post. She and other interns will be writing blog posts about their experiences throughout the summer.