Study-away experience at RIT NYC program helps recent photographic and imaging arts graduate feel fully prepared for a competitive creative career market

Rochester, New York – For many students, the transition from college life to the professional world can feel uncertain, even overwhelming. Questions about finding the right job, building connections, and proving real-world skills often sit heavily in the background during the final semesters of study. But for one recent Rochester Institute of Technology student, that leap into the unknown feels a little less intimidating.

Shannon Lesch ’26, who studied photographic and imaging arts with a focus on visual media, says she is stepping into the job market with a level of confidence she did not expect to have at this stage. Much of that assurance, she explains, comes from her time spent in New York City through the RIT in NYC study-away program, an experience designed to place students directly into the center of a fast-moving creative industry.

The program, open to students in BFA programs within RIT’s School of Photographic Arts and Sciences, gives participants the chance to live in New York City for a semester. While there, students balance academic coursework with internships, all while sharing the experience with a small cohort of peers navigating the same demanding environment.

For Lesch, who is originally from Binghamton, New York, the semester in the city became a turning point. She worked as a digital and social media intern at Rachel Harrison Communications, a public relations firm specializing in hospitality clients and related brands. At the same time, she continued her coursework and completed her capstone project, creating a tightly packed weekly routine that left little room for downtime.

“I think all of us had such a different experience. How busy we were was entirely determined by where we had an internship. I had one of the more demanding schedules because I worked from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, which ended up being about 36 hours a week. Then, on Friday we had classes all day until around 5 p.m. So, I was pretty busy between those commitments, completing my capstone, and doing homework for my classes. My friends and I really took advantage of the weekends to explore the city.”

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That structure, though intense, gave her something she says classroom learning alone could not provide: a direct look at the pace, expectations, and responsibilities of working in a real communications environment.

At Rachel Harrison Communications, Lesch was assigned to manage and support multiple client accounts across the company’s portfolio. By the end of her internship, she had worked with about seven different brands. Her daily responsibilities ranged from social media content creation to behind-the-scenes planning work that supported larger campaigns.

“Rachel Harrison Communications is a public relations firm that specifically caters to clients in the hospitality industry and related businesses. As the digital and social media intern, I was given a set of accounts that I worked on. By the end of my time there, I worked with about seven different clients and brands. My role was really focused on how I could assist other people on our team who were working on the same accounts I was assigned to cover. I did a lot of social media clipping, I would draft captions and stories, and I made some Instagram reels for the company. I would also draft shot lists and make mood boards for client photoshoots.”

For Lesch, the internship was not just about learning technical skills, but about understanding how creative work is shaped by collaboration, deadlines, and client expectations. Each task, from drafting captions to preparing visual concepts for shoots, added another layer of experience that helped her understand how the industry functions beyond the classroom.

A key part of the RIT in NYC program is its focus on professional exposure outside of internships. Students participate in excursions and meet professionals working across industries such as media, fashion, entertainment, and design. These meetings, Lesch says, played a major role in shaping her outlook on what a career path could realistically look like.

“We talked to a lot of RIT alums, so it was kind of awesome to have that confirmation that I could end up in a role like theirs. Meeting them is proof that it can really happen—that I could work for companies like Netflix or Aperture or Coach. We met some people who have super high positions in their company, and it was cool to talk with them and hear what steps they took to get to where they are now. Everyone was really nice and very honest about their experience, which I think all of us were very grateful for.”

Those conversations, she added, helped bridge the gap between education and employment. Hearing directly from graduates who had once been in her position made the future feel less abstract and more achievable. Even more importantly, it opened doors to a broader professional network that she now sees as a long-term resource.

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“It was so helpful for us to make these connections before being launched into the post-graduation job market. We were really encouraged to reach out to alumni and form connections, and, through that, I discovered that our alumni network is so strong. I’ve found that people who graduated from RIT are honestly happy to hear from me, and happy to share their personal experiences because they remember what it was like trying to land their first job or internship.”

Beyond professional networking and hands-on experience, Lesch also found that the program challenged her to think more deeply about her own career direction. As someone trained in photography, she initially assumed her future would naturally lead behind the camera. But over time, that expectation shifted.

“When you’re in a photo program, I think an obvious path that people expect you to take is to become a full-time photographer. But I came to a point in my college career where I realized that I love photography, but I didn’t know that I wanted to be a photographer. Truthfully, I struggled with that for a while, but I really think this program helped me move past that concern. Talking to people who graduated with a photography degree and are immersed in the world of photography, but in slightly different roles, was validating. It showed me that I can still thrive in the industry even if I’m not the one behind the camera taking photos.”

By the end of her study-away experience, Lesch says she felt more grounded in her choices and more aware of the many directions her career could take. The combination of professional work, academic pressure, and life in a new city pushed her to develop independence and clarity.

“In general, I feel so much more confident and better equipped with knowledge about what it takes to work in the industry. I have a better understanding of what I want out of my career and what questions I should be asking potential employers.”

As she moves forward, Lesch carries with her not just a resume filled with experience, but a stronger sense of identity within her field. For her, the RIT in NYC program was more than a semester away from campus—it was a practical bridge between student life and the professional world she is now preparing to enter.