LIMESTONE, Maine — While summer means a break from school and learning for many students, one incoming senior put her creative skills to work during vacation as an intern in the publishing field.
Alyssa Sinclair of Limestone participated recently in a month-long career exploration program based at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. As a member of Upward Bound, a program for high school seniors and college freshmen, she earned valuable community service hours and a stipend while learning about a career she may pursue — journalism.
Working with Danette Madore, Upward Bound coordinator, Sinclair’s budding passion for writing and photography was matched with a Presque Isle employer, Northeast Publishing Company — the facility that just happens to print her hometown newspaper, The Aroostook Republican & News.
Madore had little doubt Sinclair’s talents and work ethic would line up well in the demanding workplace of news reporting and publishing. She had no reservation in recommending Sinclair for the internship.
“Alyssa is pretty easy to talk about – what a terrific girl! Alyssa always has a smile on her face whenever I see her. She’s a busy lady! She’s been very involved with Destination Imagination all four years of high school, winning (I think at nationals) one year with her team from Limestone. She maintains excellence in academics – winning nine awards this year at Limestone’s academic banquet.
“She’s task-oriented and dependable; if you give a project to Alyssa, you can rest assured it will be done well, and as accurately as she can possibly make it. Obviously, Alyssa was an easy selection for us!” Madore added.
Community News Editor Paula Brewer, Sinclair’s workplace supervisor, agreed.
“Alyssa was a natural fit for what we do here. She picked things up so quickly, from processing news items to delving into the historical for ‘Looking Back,’ and even writing her own story. We really enjoyed having her with us.”
Sinclair said her growing interest in journalism and photography influenced her choice for career placement. After graduation, she plans to go to college for photojournalism or a related major.
“I’ve been interested in photography for a few years. At a competition I went to, a photographer from National Geographic spoke. After that, I was hooked.
“I found journalism on my own. I was exploring different careers in photography, and I found photojournalism. I began to research both parts of this career, and loved it,” she added.
During her internship, Sinclair learned a lot more about the journalism world and what it takes to create a newspaper every week.
“I feel like everything new you learn and every skill you gain is useful, no matter where you are. Next year, at LCS, I plan being a photographer for my school’s yearbook, which will help develop my interest greatly,” she said.
