Quincy, Massachusetts
Political Science; Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies
Newt Gingrich, Al Sharpton, Rachel Maddow, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Dee Dee Myers are just a few of the acquaintances Gina Christo made last semester as an intern with NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
A political science/women’s gender and sexuality studies double major, Christo handled a range of responsibilities during her 16-week stint with the program, including searching for video clips in the network’s archives, greeting guests, and passing notes to the show’s host, David Gregory. She worked Thursday through Sunday and attended a journalism seminar at American University through Wooster’s “Washington Semester” program.
“It was an amazing experience,” says the junior from Quincy, Mass. “I learned so much.” One of the most profound lessons was that if you work hard, you can achieve almost anything. “I know it sounds cheesy,” she says, “but I really believe it.”
Christo’s confidence has been fortified during her first five semesters at Wooster. “Because of my experience here and the encouragement I have received from my professors, I’m not shy about sharing (or defending) my opinions,” she says. “Wooster has given me the confidence and the skills to express myself better than I knew how to before.”
Thanks to her recent internship, she is considering a possible career as a political pundit on network television. “The internship with ‘Meet the Press’ really made that a more realistic goal,” says Christo, who glows at the notion of following the career path of her idol, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow.
Christo’s good fortune might never have come about had she not discovered Wooster and applied on a whim. “I applied early action to another school and was deferred, so I started looking at different liberal arts colleges in the Midwest,” she says. “I decided to visit Wooster, and when I stepped on campus, I fell in love. Everyone was just so friendly and genuinely interested in showing me their school.”
Christo’s initial impression turned out to be right on the money. Three years later, she feels as strongly as ever about Wooster. “It’s like I made it up in my head,” she says. “There’s nothing like the people here. They have a genuine kindness and interest in you and what you are doing. The learning community is very supportive, which fosters an environment that allows you to do anything you put your mind to.”