WASHINGTON, PA. (May 23, 2019)—India March ’18 didn’t know what awaited her when she was preparing for graduation last May, but she knew she wanted to follow her passion for sports and entertainment industry.
A gut feeling told India to turn down a position she was offered with grocery chain Aldi as a warehouse manager, much to the chagrin of her family members.
“My family thought I was crazy for passing up a good-paying job right out of college, but I knew I didn’t go to school for warehouse management, and it wasn’t where my passion was,” she said.
On the day of commencement, the marketing team for the Portland Trail Blazers contacted her, encouraging her to apply for their Rose Quarter Internship that provides marketing support for concerts and events. As a W&J student, she’d already gained internship experience with both the Pittsburgh Steelers and MTV, and she was a perfect fit for the new opportunity.
The Washington, Pa., native moved across the country to take the job and quickly found a home within the organization. As her internship progressed, India earned increasing levels of responsibility and even ended up covering a Justin Timberlake concert on her own.
When a part-time position opened in the communications department for the Trail Blazers, India went through a four-month interview process and was one of the final two candidates considered. She didn’t land that job, but while interviewing, she learned of another open position: Brand Strategy Production Coordinator for the Portland Trail Blazers. She threw her hat in the ring and this time earned the full-time role, which she began in April 2019.
India credits her time at W&J to preparing her for her career. In addition to her two external internships, India interned with W&J’s Office of Marketing and Communications during her junior year, and took advantage of the Magellan Project, traveling to Europe to research the entertainment industry through meetings with night club owners, DJs, and musicians. She said the project made a big impression on her employer. Her status as a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and the women’s basketball team taught her valuable teamwork and networking skills that have carried over into her career.
“I made the best decision of my life coming to W&J,” India said. “The College just offers so many opportunities. The clubs I was in, my internships, and so many great faculty and staff members…pushed me to be my best.”
About Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work. For more information about W&J, visit washjeff.dev, or call 888-W-AND-JAY.
