21 Aug First Person: Diving in Headfirst

CITC’s Communications intern has a change of heart

by Cadence Crow, CITC Communications Summer Intern

This CITC’s new Summer Internship program puts young adults first, as they build their resumes and explore the fields they’re interested in. This summer, three interns joined CITC and ANJC through the program.

CITC Communications Intern Cadence Crow penned features on her fellow interns Kendra Klotz and Shelby Wholecheese. Now, Cadence reflects on her summer at CITC.

Cadence Crow: Ready for Next Summer

I had to hit the ground running on the first day of my internship when my manager took me to three back-to-back meetings. Having never been in an office setting before, I quickly learned the ropes of business conduct, so I didn’t make a fool of myself. 

Previously, I had only worked in retail. My mom told me about the summer internship program at CITC, and I applied so I could make connections in the field I wanted to work in. The advancement of Alaska Native people has always been my focus, and working in a tribal organization is helping me pursue that dream.

During my time with CITC’s Communications team, I’ve been able to dive into marketing and learn the ins and outs of communicating across a tribal organization. I originally felt finance would be a good fit for me because my dad and brother worked in that field. Now I know marketing is what I want to do after I earn my business administration degree at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. 

What I appreciate a lot about working at CITC is that I don’t have to choose between subsistence and working. This summer, I was able to return to Kuiggluk to cut, dry, and smoke fish. My supervisor, Communications Senior Manager Fiona Brosnan and Learning and Development Manager Kaity McAdams have both encouraged me to engage in my culture.

The relationships I have made while interning are eye opening. The communications team has shown me what strong leadership is and how to have humor at work.

“When Cadence joined our CITC Communications team this summer, we gained far more than an intern, we gained a budding communications professional who could easily run the department in a few years,” Fiona raved. “Cadence’s journey with us showcases the profound impact internships can have, both on the intern and the organization. We will miss her greatly and hope she returns to us one day!”

I plan on applying for the internship again next summer to continue building my work experience. Keep the summer internship program going, CITC!

To learn more about internships at CITC, visit our Career Development page. For additional youth opportunities, explore Youth Education at CITC.