That’s opportunity knocking at your door, right here in Austin!
This blog is the next in the series of blogs discussing the components that make Austin such a great city to go to school in. Austin is a city just brimming with opportunity. Whether it is internships or job opportunities, volunteering opportunities, or really any opportunity, Austin can provide it for you.
Internships/ Jobs
The lovely UT campus is located deep in the heart of Austin. A few blocks away from McCombs is the Texas Capitol, home of the Texas Senate and House of Representative. I had the opportunity to intern at the Capitol last spring to explore my interest in law and politics. After a semester as a legislative aide, I figured out that politics wasn’t my forte, but I am thankful that I had the opportunity to immediately find out it wasn’t a field I wanted to continue.
A few blocks from the Texas Capitol is downtown Austin, where opportunities for jobs and internships in almost every industry possible are readily available. As you read earlier, a fellow blogger Xinmiao interned at American Short Fiction and is currently interning at Greenlights for Nonprofit Success. The opportunities are seemingly limitless.
All of the Big 4 accounting firms and a number of mid-cap accounting firms have offices in Austin. Not to mention opportunities provided by two large companies I’m sure you all have heard of: Dell and Whole Foods. Facebook has also just established an office in Austin.
With some simple research and communication, you can pursue any interest you have!
Volunteer
Austin is full of successful non-profits and volunteer organizations for you to get involved with. One of the most famous of these is Lance Armstrong’s LiveSTRONG foundation, which is headquartered on 6th street. This is an organization I am particularly passionate about because I am a proud member of Team LiveSTRONG. I train to participate in Team LiveSTRONG events such as the LiveSTRONG Austin Marathon and Half Marathon, as well as fundraise for cancer research and services for cancer victims and their families. But the most important aspect of my membership in Team LiveSTRONG is trying to raise hope. There are thousands of members of Team LiveSTRONG nation-wide that raise awareness and spread hope by participating in events and raise awareness by telling their stories of how cancer has affected them.
Some of the other charities in Austin you could get involved with are Austin Pets Alive!, Community Tax Centers (like Karen talked about), Dress for Success Austin, Micah 6, and many more!
Other opportunities
As I think I’ve said over and over again in this post, but there are opportunities for anything you want to get involved in. For example, Austin has very large fitness and music communities that anyone can take part in.
Bottom line: Get researching! If you have an interest, I can 99% guarantee there’s an opportunity to follow it right here in the Heart of Texas.