George Mason student finds his voice through dream internship

For George Mason University sophomore Nathan Ferraro, summer hasn't been about taking a break-it's been about chasing his dream job. The Honors College student and communication major, who's concentrating in both journalism and political communication, spent his summer interning as a staff writer with Trib Total Media, a multimedia news network in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where he wrote two to three stories a week.

"My favorite assignment so far was about a local state representative in Westmoreland County trying to reform a tax-collecting agency," he said. "I got to interview both the representative and the agency to understand the challenges people are facing and what's being done to fix them." 

For Ferraro, the assignment was more than a writing exercise-it was a glimpse into his future. "I hope to work in communications for a political campaign one day," he explained. "Getting to talk with a state representative and explore that side of the political world was really exciting." 

The Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, native recently returned from a semester abroad in Madrid through George Mason's Global Gateway Program. Jumping into local reporting has been the perfect way to reconnect with home. "This internship has been a great way for me to re-immerse myself in the community," Ferraro said. "I love getting to talk with people from local organizations and share their stories." 

At George Mason, Ferraro is already immersed in storytelling and civic engagement. He writes for the Fourth Estate, Mason's student-run newspaper, and is active in the Society of Professional Journalists and the Public Relations Student Society of America. He is also a member of the Bonner Leadership Program, a civic-engagement initiative that connects students with community organizations. 

Through Bonner, Ferraro works as a development coordinator for Britepaths, a Northern Virginia nonprofit focused on financial literacy and workforce development. "Right now, we're working to expand services beyond Fairfax and into all of Northern Virginia," he said. "It's been amazing to see the real-world impact of that work." 

The connections he's made at Britepathshave already opened doors-his supervisor wrote him a recommendation that helped him secure the Trib Total Media internship. Ferraro also credits his Honors 110 Principles of Research and Inquiry course for preparing him for success. "That class really strengthened my research and inquiry skills, which are essential to journalism. It also pushed me to get comfortable with feedback, which has been invaluable for the roles I'm in now." 

Faculty and mentors have noticed his drive. "What I appreciated about Nathan is his attention to detail, strong aptitude for academic discourse, and really excellent critical thinking skills," said Honors College professor Caroline West, who taught Ferraro in Honors 110. 

Ferraro sees writing not just as a career skill, but as a calling. "I just love writing and sharing people's stories," he said. "Wherever I end up, I hope that's always at the heart of what I do." 

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Internships at George Mason

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