by Ellie Feis, advertising and public relations student
Over 4,710 miles away from home, Anika Zempleni woke up most days last summer before sunrise to catch the 7:30 train. A long hour passed until she reached her destination. Eight hours later, she caught the train again. It was a time-consuming commute but, for Zempleni, it was time well spent.
Zempleni, a junior advertising and public relations and art history student, had the opportunity to apply the skills she learned in both of her majors when she interned at the Stӓdel Art Museum in Frankfurt, Germany, last summer. Her fluency in German secured her the task of translating the museum’s website into English. During her time at the museum, she experienced firsthand how art museums operate and communicate with the public.
Zempleni’s parents are German immigrants who taught her German at an early age, but translating German to English was no easy task. ADPR courses helped Zempleni when she was faced with the challenge of communicating the idea of the German text in a way that was engaging and familiar to English speakers.
Many ADPR students find the skills they learn at the CoJMC applicable to jobs and internships that are not necessarily stereotypical to the major. Zempleni’s internship, though primarily about art history, allowed her to practice the skills she had learned in her CoJMC classes.
“Copywriting and PR classes taught me how to translate complex ideas in art to everyone,” Zempleni said. “Communication’s something art history doesn’t necessarily focus on. When you communicate with the public, you have to do it in a way that is interesting and innovative.”
The internship did not come without small sacrifices; Zempleni lived in Geisenheim, a town an hour away from Frankfort, with her grandmother. As a result, Zempleni had to wake up early to catch the train and return late in the evening after a full day’s worth of work. However, it was worth it to work in a prominent art museum that has existed for over two centuries.
The Stӓdel Museum is Germany’s oldest museum foundation and has a collection spanning 700 years of European art. According to the museum website, there are over 107,000 pieces of art in its collections, making the Stӓdel museum one that attracts visitors from all over the world.
Zempleni has one piece of advice for students seeking internships at prestigious companies and organizations.
“It’s really only because I talked to my professors that I got this internship. Talking with your professors, meeting them, getting to know them is vital to getting a leg up in your career.”