By Zack Kime ’22, staff writer
Entering his senior year at LVC, Mason Jerden, a political science major, hit what most would consider a roadblock.
Having already completed two internships, three years of college lacrosse and countless courses, it was all beginning to build up to be too much for Jerden.
“I was getting stuck in a negative cycle,” Jerden said. “I wasn’t sure how to ask for help and honestly I was afraid to talk about it with my parents and my advisor.”
Yet, it was once Jerden made a point to have a conversation with his father and figure out what courses he needed to put on his schedule for his final semester of college that he started to feel more at ease.
“Always try to enjoy your classes and avoid those negative cycles of getting rundown,” Jerden said. “Be open with parents and advisors and don’t be afraid to ask for help, they’re there to help and care about your success in the end.”
A big year for Jerden was 2018 as he completed internships during both the fall and summer, one in Pennsylvania and the other in California. While in California, Jerden worked for Amgen, where he focused on environmental renewability and business infrastructure.
“I was working on presentations, communicating with VPs and took on a somewhat significant role in the company while I was there,” Jerden said. “They also provided the interns with housing, brought us to promotional events and let us pick the brains of any of the bosses we worked alongside.”
Jerden felt the time he then spent with Red Maverik Media in the fall really gave him a look into the rules of politics and what political consulting was really all about. This internship was still relatively hands-off, allowing him to get a sense of what lobbyists did with their days and understand what a potential career in this field would look like.
“I got to visit and work in the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex and sit in on some high-level lobbyist meeting around the state,” Jerden said.
Although he utilized much of what he had learned in his classes here at LVC, Jerden made a point to emphasize the importance of real-life, team-oriented skills too.
“Social skills, networking and interpersonal communication have to be the top three when it comes to real-life skills that I used on the job,” Jerden said.
In terms of the skills acquired from lacrosse, Jerden feels that over the years he’s improved on his punctuality drastically. Besides this, his level of teamwork and leadership in and among a group have been greatly enhanced as a result of working with his teammates over the years.
Outside of lacrosse and schoolwork, Jerden likes to take drives and spend time with his four-legged friend, Bolt. He recently adopted Bolt over quarantine and together, the pair have gone to countless beaches and taken many scenic road trips.
“It’s important to find places where you can center yourself, find time to be calm and at peace,” Jerden said. “Going to the beach and spending some time away from everything else can really help during those tough times.”
Now, coming full circle, Jerden intends on returning to Amgen following his senior year to work in manufacturing and logistics. He’s choosing to work back home in California, a place he knows well and loves.
“That’s definitely something to keep in mind, find a job or an internship in a location where you know you’ll be happy,” Jerden said.
Although this may not be his dream job, Jerden is going back to a company that made him feel at home and taught him valuable lessons in his field of work. And even though Jerden is moving on from LVC, he’s ultimately settling in to a familiar future.