Alliance for Catholic Education
While there are many different ways Notre Dame students are able to spend their summers (studying abroad, working at home, interning at a large firm, etc.), the decision is one that should be made with intentionality and purpose. The Frassati Internship could serve any undergraduate student passionate about discovering the intersection between business and Catholic education.
During the fall of my sophomore year, I was lucky enough to lead a Impact Consulting Student International Business Council (SIBC) project that worked with the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) to devise more effective marketing strategies to help boost application numbers. I worked closely with Mike Comuniello on this project, and it allowed me to gain a deeper insight into ACE’s mission and outreach.
Additionally, during spring break of my sophomore year, I traveled to New Mexico and was given the opportunity to visit several schools sponsored by ACE through the American Indian Catholic Schools Network. The trip left a permanent imprint on my heart, and needless to say, the decision to become a Frassati Intern felt right given these previous experiences with ACE.
Nevertheless, I feel as though it is important to share why I believe the Frassati Internship can be a valuable experience for any Notre Dame student, with the following two conditions: 1) you must be eager and open to supporting the mission of Catholic education; and 2) you must embrace and welcome the role business can play in that mission.
Firstly, the Frassati internship allows students to apply their business knowledge in a real-world setting. As an IT Systems Intern at Seton Catholic Schools, there have been so many times I have referenced an excel formula from my Foundations of Business Analytics course or thought back to lectures from Why Business? on the importance of ethical business practices. Throughout the internship, you are encouraged to learn new skills that may be outside of your current comfort zone, all while employing skills you have garnered from your Notre Dame education.
Moreover, Frassati is an experience that encourages students to reflect on the purpose of their work and the lives of those they serve. Each Friday, the cohort of interns meets virtually to discuss weekly readings focused on topics related to our work. These themes range from humility to organizational culture to living in an integrated life… and so much more. Frassati is unique in that you are asked to reflect on why your work has value, as well as learn and hear from others in the cohort about their work. Additionally, these calls provide interns with the opportunity to hear from weekly guest speakers, which gives students the chance to encounter real people authentically living out a career in business while simultaneously serving the greater good of the community and God.
Finally, Frassati gives students the chance to explore a new city all while living in community with other Notre Dame students. Because of Frassati, I have come to identify as a Milwaukee Brewers fan, a Summerfest enthusiast, and a Bradford Beach frequenter. I have also had the opportunity to get to know three other Notre Dame students deeply in community that I otherwise would not have.
As I embark on my Frassati journey, I have been reading Fr. Greg Boyle’s book Tattoos on the Heart. As he so eloquently states, “God is compassionate, loving kindness. All we’re asked to do is to be in the world who God is.” Frassati is an experience that can transform you, inspire you, change you, if only you choose to let it, into a leader of compassionate, loving kindness. I pray you give it that chance.