Emily Witter Interns for the United Services Organization of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore

Emily Witter meets celebrity Jep Robertson from Duck Dynasty at USO!

• What skills did you learn on the job?

I learned about the United Services Organization of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore as a successful non-profit, and how they support our troops every single day with USO Airport Lounges, Hospital Services, USO-Centers, the USO Mobile, Emergency Programs, Ticketline, and Holiday Programs. Working in the world's largest USO Center right next door to the Warrior Transition Battalion Center on Fort Belvoir's Army Base was an amazing experience.  Growing up in a military household, I gained an even greater appreciation for our nations wounded, ill, and injured troops.

• Which classes best prepared you for the internship?

My professional editing course taught by Lucy Bednar prepared me the most for my work with USO-Metro. Thanks to the editing skills I took away from that course, I was able to successfully write 11 articles for their official website.  

• What professional growth have you witnessed since your internship?

I've become more confident in presenting myself in a professional manner to others. An aspect of my internship was to interview high profile people. Throughout the course of my internship I interviewed Ian Desmond (# 20 of the Washington Nationals Baseball Team), Zach Hocker (Washington Redskins Rookie), and Jep Robertson (Duck Dynasty Family Member). At the beginning, my Supervisor would make the introduction for me. After a while though, I gained the confidence necessary to present myself and ask the right questions. My job at USO-Metro was essentially being a story teller.  In order to tell those stories I had to talk to service members, spouses, and sponsors of USO-Metro in order to compile articles for USO-Metro's website.

 
•  How has the internship experience shaped your learning philosophy?

I learn by doing. This internship experience simply highlighted the fact that I will always be a hands on student.

• Have you been offered a full time position?

I will be interning with USO-Metro next summer to fulfill my Non-profit Studies internship credit.