How they're spending their summer vacations

News

Staff Writer

For many college students, summer is a time for taking a break from classes, assignments and exams.

For some students, it’s a time to find a job and earn some money for tuition, books and living expenses.

For others, summer presents an opportunity to secure an internship and learn what it’s like to work in their chosen field before returning to school or entering the work force.

That’s the case for Gayane Margaryan, who’s interning this summer at Downtown Vision Inc. She’ll be a senior this fall at the University of Florida majoring in public relations and political science.

Margaryan found her internship through a job she has at UF in the university’s Career Resource Center.

“I see a lot of positions that are available,” she said.

“Jacksonville is my hometown and interning at DVI seemed like a wonderful opportunity. I interviewed first on the phone, then drove to Jacksonville for an in-person interview,” said Margaryan, who added working Downtown after attending Stanton College Preparatory School has given her a different perspective on the neighborhood.

“It’s wonderful to see how everything has progressed Downtown,” she said.

One of her projects at DVI is to develop a networking opportunity for fellow Downtown interns. One of Margaryan’s first contacts was Liz Sicilia, who’s interning this summer in the Landing’s marketing and public relations department.

Sicilia is a senior at Florida State University majoring in marketing with a minor in information technology. She’s working on the Landing’s website and social media.

“I wanted to gain some experience in what a marketing job is like. I’ve never had the opportunity to work in a real-world environment and here I get to do a lot more than just intern stuff. I’m part of the team,” said Sicilia, who has lived in Jacksonville since she was 14 years old and attended Bishop Kenny High School before heading to Tallahassee.

“I love Downtown. I never knew there were so many things here. There really is a city feel here. I just never came Downtown to feel it,” she added.

Erin Lahey is interning for the City of Jacksonville this summer. She just graduated from FSU with a degree in business management and is headed for Emerson College in Boston this fall to pursue a master’s degree.

Lahey is working in the Recreation and Community Services Department.

“I’m writing press releases and helping manage the website. I’m also working on park ceremonies and helping set up a program called ‘Summer Night Lights.’ The City is opening seven parks on Friday and Saturday nights to encourage teens to come to the parks for activities,” said Lahey.

While studying dance at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, she said she became familiar with Downtown and the Times-Union Center and Florida Theatre from performing at the venues. Working in the Ed Ball Building has given her a new appreciation for Downtown.

“It’s been a lot of fun working here. I enjoy being able to walk to lunch or to the bank and the people are very friendly,” said Lahey.

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid has an intern in the accounting department. Mike Flynn, who will be a senior accounting major at the University of North Florida in the fall, said working at JALA is a natural fit.

“My grandfather, Paul Doyle, was JALA’s executive director in the 1970s,” said Flynn.

“I like working Downtown. There are so many great places to eat,” he added. “I’m from Jacksonville, but never came Downtown very much except for concerts or to go to the Landing. It’s a lot different to work down here. Everything is so close by.”