I got my break at NBCUniversal because of a Baruch professor.
Professor Roy Johnson—one of those life-changing professors students pray they get to meet—was teaching a Communication Studies courses needed for my minor. It was a PR class, and the assignment was to chose a celebrity who had gone through a crisis and create a campaign to mitigate it. Because I’m an athlete, I chose Arnold Schwarzenegger. After my presentation, Professor Johnson approached me, asking about my athletic career as an intercollegiate swimmer. Of course, you can’t talk about being a swimmer and not talk about the Summer Olympics. The games were so influential during my childhood.
A bit after that conversation, I get an e-mail from Professor Johnson. He had gotten word of an internship opportunity at NBCUniversal and wondered, since NBCU is the official broadcasters of the Olympics, whether I would be interested in the opportunity. I jumped on the offer. Next I submitted my qualifications to the professor, who sent them to the head of communications. Eventually my resume was passed to the vice president of content distribution research (my boss now).
I’ll always remember the interview process: a group interview, with eight people vying for two spots on two teams. I was so nervous.
In anticipation I had practiced answering many difficult, even obscure questions, including, “How many windows does the Empire State Building have?” (A peer was asked that question during an interview with Goldman Sachs.) But what surprised me was that most of the questions were about intercollegiate swimming: How had it shaped me? How had I managed my time to include practices, meets, and academics? So I shared the hardships but also the gains: the beautiful friendships, learning leadership skills, and the sense of camaraderie that I want to take into the workplace.
After the interview, I felt so relaxed and confident. The call came right away: both teams wanted me! I had to choose. At that moment, I remember how blessed I felt and how grateful I was for everything Baruch had given me.
During the internship, I wanted to prove myself: I stayed late and produced reports at a higher-than-expected level. It paid off! NBCUniversal asked me back full time in the fall. It broke my heart to say no; I had one more year of college left. NBCU asked again as the spring term began. So, presenting to the senior vice president, the vice president, and Human Resources, I outlined how I would handle being a full-time student and employee. To my surprised, they agreed to my plan!
During this time, I also continued with my college swimming. So, in the month of February 2014, I was a full-time employee, full-time student, and facing the three biggest three-day competitions in my swimming career. I time-managed like my life depended on it. I would wake up at 4:30 am and swim 2 hours, work from 8:30 to 5, return to Baruch for class from 5:50 to 8:45, and train at the gym from 9 to 10:30. Needless to say, I didn’t sleep much. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I still feel that this is all too good to be true. I got to do everything I love and begin my career in a company I love.
Sung has committed to donating money annually to the Baruch Swimming and Diving team as “a small token” of her appreciation.
Related Article
Entering the World of Work: In His Own Words—Jeffrey McClellan (’14) of Goldman Sachs