Martasia Carter is a Chicago-born senior from Hammond, IN with a double major in Public Health (concentration in Biology) and Political Science (concentration in Public Policy). She is also minoring in African American Studies and has a certificate in Public Policy. This past summer, Martasia had the opportunity to intern for EverThrive Illinois in Chicago. Given her passion for maternal and child health policy, Martasia had a fantastic summer of personal growth and exploration, which affirmed her interest in the field of public health.
What attracted you to the company/position?
EverThrive IL seeks to eliminate maternal and child health disparities, which is my area of interest within Public Health. This organization is also connected to the University of Illinois at Chicago, my top choice for an MD/PhD program. I saw this as a networking opportunity to meet key scholars and advocates in my field, in addition to it being an opportunity to spend the summer with my family.
What was the hiring process like?
I submitted a cover letter and my CV via email and fax, then I had two phone interviews with my direct supervisors. The entire process took about a month. I submitted my application and interviewed in April, and I started my internship in June.
What was your overall experience like working there and what did your typical day look like?
The overall experience was great. I worked two days per week, 9am-3pm. When I arrived, I worked independently on school-based health center data analysis projects. I coded the data then comprised the results into reports that were publicly distributed.
Did you get any cool perks working for this company/organization?
I was given a free t-shirt and access to various events and networks.
What did this job teach you about yourself?
This internship taught me that the 9am-5pm life is not for me. I need a little more variety and interpersonal communication throughout the day. However, it did reinforce my interests in medicine and maternal and child health policy.
Where do you see yourself working post-graduation/did you land a full-time job with the company?
I graduate in December 2019, and I will be pursuing graduate studies. I’ll be applying to Purdue’s Master of Public Health program.
How do you feel that your education at Purdue helped you while working for this company?
My education at Purdue prepared me for the rigors of data analysis. Ironically, the semester before I started my internship, I took a course that detailed the applications of Microsoft Excel. Thanks to that already solid foundation of knowledge for the software, I was able to succeed in translating data.
What career advice would you give to underclassmen?
Follow your inner compass. If you speak it, it will happen. If you are dedicated, it will last.
