In this Scholar-Athlete Spotlight, we are featuring Florida Tech volleyball player,
Josianne Keenan. This summer, the Fairport, N.Y. native is gaining meaningful experience at an internship in her desired field. We caught up with Keenan to learn more about the incredible opportunity.
What company are you interning for this summer? What was your title and role with the company?
This summer, I am interning with a Minor League Baseball Team in Rochester, NY, known as the Rochester Red Wings. My title with the team is Social Media and Graphic Design Intern, and my role is to provide photo, video, and graphic design content for all of the social media platforms that the Red Wings use.
What drew you to this internship?
I am originally from Rochester, so I have always known of the Red Wings but never actually went to a game! I saw a Facebook post saying that the team was looking for social media interns, so I immediately applied. After sending in a few baseball graphics and having an interview with the director of digital media, I was offered a role as an intern! I began working remotely in February by making a few graphics per week and started in person at the end of May.
What are some exciting tasks that you have been able to be a part of?
So far, I have been able to work on a little bit of everything involved in sports media. My first day consisted of recording, editing, and posting a video from an exciting game. The next few days followed with photographing the team and fans, making Tik Toks, editing graphics to showcase players, and seeing everything that goes into the branding of the Red Wings.
How is your internship preparing you for a career you would like to do after graduation?
This internship is almost exactly what I would like to do as a career, so this is a perfect introduction to the world of sports media. I am looking to work with any major sports team with their content creation, so being able to do that for the Red Wings with a range of creative freedom makes me excited for the future!
What is your major at Florida Tech? Why did you choose this direction for your education and is this something you always wanted to pursue?
I am currently majoring in Multiplatform Journalism, which focuses on all aspects of releasing information in media, such as audio, video, photo, and writing. When I first came to Florida Tech, I was a Biomedical Science major, but my mind and heart always turned back to my creative side, which made me want to turn my hobbies into a career. There was always a little part of me that knew I wanted to make a career in photography/videography, it just took some time to figure out which direction I wanted to take with it. My mom said she always knew sports media was up my alley, but I finally realized it after getting to work with Florida Tech Athletic Communications.
How has being a collegiate athlete prepared you for the work you are currently doing? What traits did you take away from the playing field that are helping you throughout your internship?
Being an athlete and always being around sports made me fall in love with that atmosphere. The competitiveness and action that happens in every sport inspired me to combine that with my love of photography. Eventually, that brought me to the sports media world. Being right in the center of a sport, especially in college, has shown me the amount of media that goes into a team, as well as how fast-paced it is. Once I joined Florida Tech Athletic Communications, my time management skills from being an athlete transitioned into the role as I had to photograph, edit, and deliver photos/content in a timely manner.
What skills did you acquire at the internship that you plan to bring back to help lead the softball team?
Although I am still freshly new in the internship with the Red Wings, I have learned a few skills and pieces of advice already that I will carry with me, especially coming back in August for the volleyball season. My role as a social media intern involves me working one-on-one, often with my boss. This shows me how to not only respect his knowledge and role but also take constructive criticism when it comes to my work. This can also be the same on the volleyball court when it comes to receiving constructive feedback from teammates and coaches to improve my game. On my first day, a fellow photographer at the Red Wings said, "If there is one piece of advice I have learned and can give to you is not to take yourself too seriously." Although he meant this from a photographer's point of view, I translated it into my role as a volleyball player and how I should not be too hard on myself when I make a mistake or am in a rut on the court. I started to play volleyball because I love it and want to have fun, and that is how I want to end my last season at Florida Tech.
What advice would you give another athlete/prospective athlete who is looking to pursue the path you've taken?
Practice! Practice! Practice! When I first started photographing my friends and slowly getting into sports, I was not the best. Plain and simple. My photos were blurry, I didn't know how to edit, and they just weren't the "cool" photos you would see posted by the NFL or NBA. Just like with being an athlete, the more I practiced, the more I improved. I tried to photograph anything whenever I could and attend any sporting event, I was available for. Over time I ended up learning from other photographers, getting familiar with my settings, and started to find my own style with photography.
