RichmondCC Intern Gets Hands-on Administrative Work Experience at Cascades

April 22, 2019 – When Richmond Community College student Shamesha Young of Wagram graduates in May, she will be well prepared to enter the workforce because of her internship at Cascades.

Young started the internship last fall, performing administrative duties for the company such as data entry, filing and scanning.

“I have a very important role in the company’s logistics department. I am responsible for handling the paperwork that is involved in the shipping process and ensuring that drivers receive their correct bill of lading,” Young said. “Logistics is a very complex operation, so precision is very important when you are a part of that operation.”

As her first real professional job, the internship at Cascades has taught her many things including problem-solving skills.

“Some days I am in the office alone, so when problems arise, I must figure out a way to solve them. In the beginning, I was very nervous to make decisions on my own, so that was another challenge,” Young said.

Cascades has been very pleased with Young’s work and ability to contribute to the day-to-day operations of the company.

“Shamesha has done very well with us. It is a different environment than what she’s used to, but she has adjusted quickly,” said Brook Wilson, Human Resources manager at Cascades. “The internship program has given her hands-on experience in an office environment and has prepared her for future career opportunities.”

Cascades has been flexible with Young’s schedule so that she can get the work experience but still be a full-time college student.

Young’s accounting instructor at RichmondCC, Matilda Davis, told her about the internship program, and then Director of Career and Transfer Services Patsy Stanley helped her update her resume and submit it to Cascades.

When Young started the internship, she was taking five classes. She had to learn how find a study routine that worked best with her work schedule so she could maintain her GPA. This semester, she took all her classes online at RichmondCC, which made it easier to balance her study time with work and life in general, she said.

Young will be graduating from RichmondCC with two degrees: an Associate in Accounting and Associate in Business Administration. She plans to further her education and get a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She’s considering transferring to either Fayetteville State University or the University of North Carolina-Pembroke. In the mean time, she plans to find a full-time accounting job and begin her career.

Young encourages other students to take advantage of the internship program at RichmondCC.

“The knowledge and experience that is gained in an internship position is priceless,” she said. “It also gives you an advantage over other applicants for a job position. Most employers want candidates who already possess certain values and skills, and an internship will help develop those qualities.”

Learn More

RichmondCC students can learn more about internship opportunities with local companies by visiting the Career & Transfer Center on main campus in Hamlet. At the Career & Transfer Center, they can get help with their resume and brush up on interviewing skills.

Accepting New Students

For anyone who would like to learn more about becoming a student at RichmondCC this summer or fall, the College is now accepting new students. Call (910) 410-1730 or apply online for free!