After transferring to the university as a sophomore, Kate Beemer hatched a plan to spend time studying abroad – followed by a stint at MTV Germany  Kate Beemer is an adventurous soul who has embarked on an unconventional college journey.   A senior at Rutgers University–New Brunswick who is majoring in journalism and media studies, Beemer spent much of her summer melding her passions – music, improving her German and studying abroad – with an internship at Germany’s version of MTV in Berlin.  Beemer, who spent part of her sophomore year hosting a music show on Rutgers Radio (WRSU 88.7 FM), worked as a music programming intern with the talent and music management department of Music Television Germany, a television channel better known as MTV Germany that is operated by Paramount Global.  Kate Beemer spent part of her sophomore year hosting a music show called "Cakewalk With DJ Kate" on Rutgers Radio (WRSU 88.7 FM). The Maplewood, N.J., resident said her daily tasks included compiling and updating information with top albums and singles, adding that “every day of the week, there's a new information release. I had to update the charts based on when it comes out.”  “It's honestly been an amazing experience,” said Beemer, who started the internship in May and completed it in mid-July. “I mean, No. 1, it's all in German, so that's been a big challenge for me.”    Beemer, who spent her junior year studying German and journalism at the Freie Universität Berlin (the Free University of Berlin), said being in a professional environment “where everyone speaks German” proved a meaningful way to sharpen her language skills.  “I'm having to constantly make sure I'm working on my German – and not just in a casual way,” said Beemer, who remained in Berlin after finishing her junior year to complete the internship and returns to the Rutgers School of Communication and Information in the fall. A transfer student from the University of California, Santa Cruz, Beemer arrived at Rutgers as a sophomore with a plan: In addition to navigating the catch-up of college coursework typically involved in shifting from one university to another, she sought to study abroad for a year in Germany before completing degree in New Brunswick.   Meghan Ingstrup, the assistant dean for undergraduate student services at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information, has helped transform Beemer’s plan into reality.    As Beemer’s adviser, Ingstrup noted how the transfer student was on a mission to fold her higher education experience with studying abroad.  “She's like, ‘Listen, I really want to do journalism and media studies, and I know that's going to require some coursework, but I also have this plan, as a dual citizen of the United States and Germany, to spend a year studying abroad,’” Ingstrup said. “And that's awfully ambitious as a transfer student who still wants to stay on track for timely graduation.” “I wasn't sure how it was going to go,” Ingstrup added. “We put together a plan. We're like, ‘Let's see if we can make this happen.’ And she's so committed to having this experience.” Squeezing the MTV internship into that plan was icing on the German cake. Beemer, who is pursuing a minor both in German and gender and media studies, said the opportunity was “a bit of a special situation,” explaining that internships in Germany are typically a longer-term commitment.  Ingstrup recalled when Beemer asked her how she could take on the internship and how it would impact her ability to graduate in four years.  “We looked at everything,” said Ingstrup, adding that timely degree completion is a critical mission of the university. “We found a way to allow her to use this internship experience as credit for her major at Rutgers.”  Ingstrup added: “We've done a lot of work together consistently throughout each semester for the last year and a half, ensuring that she can stay on track to timely degree completion, even with her plans to have a journalism media studies major, to have a German minor, to have a gender and media studies minor and to fit in this experience.”  Beemer, whose mother grew up in Germany and moved to the United States as a teenager, said she finds comfort in the German language.    “I grew up hearing it around the house,” said Beemer, adding she could speak German “much better” when she was younger “and “kind of lost it – and then I decided that it was going to be a goal for me to pick it back up and travel here.”  “I think that it gets a bad rep,” Beemer said. “I feel like a lot of people think German is a very harsh language, but I think it's just how German people are. It's a pretty practical language."  Beemer, who over the next year plans to apply to master's programs in Berlin (the focus would be media studies and “also hopefully something that can pertain to music”), said she transferred to Rutgers–New Brunswick for the study abroad opportunities.  “Rutgers pretty much checked off every box for me in that sense,” she said. “Everyone I spoke to when I was trying to figure out if I should transfer or not was super, super helpful and super accommodating. And I realized not only that Rutgers has the things I'm interested in, but just how much there is at Rutgers to explore different options. It was just overall the most practical decision and the best possible way for me to pursue what my goals were at the time.”  “She's so committed to having this experience,” said Ingstrup, adding that “our Rutgers students are really lucky that these experiences exist for them. There are folks who can talk them through how you can make this happen.”  This article originally appeared in Rutgers Today.

The latest in our summer International Student Spotlight series is Danaya Rakhimova from Tajikstan, who is studying linguistics at Rutgers University. Danaya is an Orientation Leader (OL) and will help out at our International Student Orientation, held in late August (and again in the spring semester). Our OLs volunteer their time and energy to ensure that new international students arriving to Rutgers feel welcomed and prepared to start their academic journey at Rutgers. Learn more about Danaya and her experiences at Rutgers along with some of her favorite things. Why did you choose to come to Rutgers?  I chose Rutgers because they are the reason my family is here in the first place. My mom was accepted into a Rutgers PhD program back in 2010 and that brought my family here. When it came time to apply, Rutgers felt like the right place for me because of how they were so welcoming of my family all those years ago.  What are you studying at Rutgers?  I am a Linguistics major and a Creative Writing minor. My favorite classes at Rutgers so far have been my Screenwriting for TV class and Linguistics of Signed Languages. Where is your favorite place on campus and why?  My favorite place at Rutgers is the College Avenue Campus because it has everything there: many places to hang out and relax, a variety of food, a downtown area that is also full of places to hang out, and all of my classes are pretty much contained in that one campus so I have everything I need.  What is the thing that surprised you most when you came to Rutgers?  I was really surprised that learning can be something fun. I’m not someone who took joy in going to class and sitting there taking notes. However, when coming to Rutgers I was able to pick my own classes from a plethora of different options and that’s when I found classes I really loved and had a great time in.  What is your favorite restaurant in the area and why?  I really like Akihi, a bubble tea shop at the Yard. I go there very often and not only is it aesthetically beautiful, but they have really good drinks and their chicken is tasty.  What do you do when you are not studying?  I am the Treasurer of the Korean Language Club at Rutgers, and I am also a member of the Film Club. I work as an Orientation Leader for the International Student Orientation, an orientation assistant at is ISSS office, and with Rutgers Future Scholars as a summer ambassador, working closely with kids in high school working on earning college credit and looking into possible futures for them.  Why did you decide to become an Orientation Leader?  This past summer I had the opportunity to work with high schoolers and give them a taste of Rutgers life, and I really enjoyed being able to help people and answer their questions. As an international student who has lived in the U.S. for almost 14 years, I have a unique perspective on the U.S. and Rutgers since it has been a part of my life for so long. I want to help other international students with their journey in navigating the U.S. and Rutgers as someone who has had a lot of experience with both.  What advice would you give to a new international student at Rutgers?  Don’t be afraid to explore and meet new people. The best way to learn something and adapt to your environment is to explore, try, and experience.  Where do you see yourself in 5 years?  In 5 years, I hope to be working somewhere in the film and TV industry. I also hope to travel more and experience different cultures and environments. Learn more about International Student Orientation, coming up on August 26-28. 2024. Learn more about becoming an Orientation Leader.