About the Author:

Laura Contrucci is a senior studying visual communication design at Kent State University. Over the course of this summer, Laura will also be the Design Intern at Elevate Thinking in Columbus, OH. She shares her work and experience in her online portfolio at LauraContrucci.com.

One plus of having an internship in a new city is getting to explore! I’ve visited Columbus many times before because I have some family that lives in the city. But I’ve never explored too much on my own, or hit up the spots I’d be visiting if I actually lived here. My internship is located in the heart of the city so I’m getting more familiar with it.

First on my to do list was trying all the best food places! The North Market is my new favorite place. Along with Jeni’s ice cream. If you’re in a new city for your internship do some research and pick out a few places to try. Ask your new coworkers where some of their favorite spots are. It’s a good conversation starter because everyone wants to brag about their city.

I’ve also begun exploring the many shopping opportunities in Columbus. The malls are fantastic and there are many locally run shops too. Clothes, books, vintage furniture, thrifting—it’s all here!

I wanted an internship in Columbus specifically because I think I may want to move here after graduation. It’s not too far from home and there’s a lot going on. So far, it apparent that there is plenty of opportunity for new graduates. Come to find out, there is nearly a dozen Fortune 500 companies that are headquarted in Columbus and with over 70 different young professional organizations, there is a ton to get involved in. I’ve even found myself walking by downtown apartments and jokingly telling my friends “that’s where I’ll be living in a year.” So it looks like my plan is a good one!

Part of an internship is the location so take that into consideration when applying. Where could you see yourself in the future? Where do you have friends of family with possible connections and possible couches to crash on?