H-ton Senior Brianna McDonald Interning in Athletic Office
Brianna McDonald is fun to be around. She’s smart and determined, too. The popular Huntington High School senior is interning in the athletic office this year and she’s gaining skills she’ll be able to utilize in college and beyond when she launches a career in nursing.
An upbeat teenager who likes to find something positive in everything she comes across, Ms. McDonald is engaged in a credit bearing full-year internship with Georgia D. McCarthy, the district director of physical education, health, interscholastic athletics and driver education.
“As many would expect, I was excited to start my senior year in high school, but more intrigued about my opportunity to intern in the athletic director’s office,” Ms. McDonald said. “As an athlete myself, I wanted to know more about what went into the decision making process in high school athletics, such as how schedules are developed and rules are made and how teams are created.”
Ms. McDonald reports to the athletic office daily for a 40 minute period. “In the first few weeks of the school year I have learned so much already, including more about the office and the responsibilities of being an AD,” the senior said. “Doing this job has not only allowed me to become closer with Ms. McCarthy and secretaries Mary Lou Paxton and Rosemary Fleming, it has also opened me up to see what the job is like behind the scenes and see how much hard work and dedication it takes to be an AD.”
The teenager is a member of the National Honor Society, English Honor Society, Social Studies Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. She participates in the yearbook club, is the student government’s historian and is a Relay For Life event chair.
Ms. McDonald plays on Huntington’s varsity girls’ lacrosse team. She is one of the Blue Devil football team’s statisticians this fall.
“I plan to pursue a career in nursing, which will require the tools I am developing in the athletic director’s office, including commitment, organization and planning,” Ms. McDonald said.
The senior is applying to Fairfield University, Northeastern University, Penn State, Binghamton University, University of Connecticut, Rutgers University, New York University, Hunter College, Pace University and University Massachusetts Amherst. “Any of these schools will all allow me to pursue my goal of becoming a nurse,” Ms. McDonald said.
“Brianna is doing a wonderful job in the athletic office,” Mrs. McCarthy said. “She is easygoing and a joy to work with. She’s just fabulous.”