Student Spotlight: Sarah Pacholski

EXPERIENCES WITH UNO ENGLISH

What drew you to the English major at UNO?

I was drawn to the English major at UNO because of my passion for literature. The staff within the English department are people I admire; they care about their students and fellow staff members.

What's one of the most helpful skills you've gained from studying English at UNO?

Academically analyzing literature in such a way that encourages my own mind to see a piece of work in a new light.

What advice would you give to future students who want to study English?

Don’t let difficulties get you down. Let yourself feel a piece of literature or history and dig from there. Whenever you have questions or are unsure, don’t be ashamed to ask. Regardless of who it is – a teacher or fellow classmate. English has so much more to offer than people might expect.

Do you have any plans in mind for what you want to do after college?

Since the internship, I have been inspired by the idea of finding a career in museums. I hope to get my master's degree either in English or Museum Studies, and then determine my doctoral degree from there. Although my master’s and doctoral degrees are still up in the air, my end goal is to work in museums.

EXPERIENCES WITH THE WILLA CATHER CENTER

How did you discover the Willa Cather Center Humanities Internship?

I had been researching internships and jobs on Handshake and found this particular internship interesting. Before I applied though, I wanted to consult my current English professor, Dr. Johanningsmeier. Ironically, he brought up the internship the next day to the whole class before I even said anything. It sort of felt like a sign.

What were some of your primary responsibilities?

I had to work in the bookstore, give tours of the seven historical buildings in Red Cloud, organize archival boxes and create finding aids, design a website page and plug in resources, and assist the spring conference, teacher’s institute, and theater performance prep. I also enjoyed merchandising, so they gave me free rein to re-merchandise the bookstore sometimes.

What were some of your favorite experiences?

Creating friendships. I got really lucky and bonded with the other intern, the locals were extremely welcoming, the staff at the foundation were exceptional and hilarious, and the guests I met were from all over the world. I also enjoyed the prairie and the way it inspired me to write.

What valuable skills you did you gain? How might they help you in future endeavors?

Working with archival items and creating finding aids to make them open through the website is something I hope to carry to other career endeavors. I’ve always been a bit of an organizational nut, and through this experience, I found that I really enjoy organizing history and the knowledge it brought with it. The more I experienced the historical sites and items in Red Cloud, the more I became inspired by Cather’s own writing. She may have been ruthless in her reviews of theater and operas, but she was inspiring. She stood her ground and was an independent person. She never stopped going for her goals.

Would you recommend this internship to other students?

DEFINITELY! I don't think it gets enough hype. This wasn’t just an internship experience for me. I developed friendships, opened doors that I didn’t know were possible, and saw my passion in the eyes of unique individuals. Being able to live in historical buildings was like living in history. You don’t even have to know all about Willa Cather’s writing or life. This experience will blow your mind and inspire you to want to learn all you can.