This week we welcomed Holland Pintarch to the LATC team. She is a senior at Lebanon Valley College (LVC) and will graduate this spring with a triple, yes, TRIPLE major in political science, philosophy and American studies.

Before we threw her headfirst into the public affairs world, we asked her a few questions so we (and you) could get to know her a little better.

What’s your favorite thing about LVC?

My favorite thing about LVC is the size of the campus and the student body. Deciding between a large school and a small school was a challenge for me, but I could not be more pleased with my choice. With about 1,800 students, it’s easy to walk around LVC and see countless familiar (and friendly!) faces. I also appreciate the scope of the physical campus, which makes walking between buildings hassle-free, as well as the smaller educational departments, which have allowed me to connect with my professors and gain numerous mentors throughout my years at the college.

What do you like about PR? 

One of the major things I like about public relations is its concentration on the positive, or finding the “silver lining.” Whether the PR objective is to portray a specific client in a positive and informing way, publicize a significant event to gain public awareness, or execute crisis management, those in PR focus on the positive. It’s this emphasis, while at the same time recognizing and respecting all aspects of the client or situation, that I find most rewarding about studying and practicing PR.

What do you like about writing?

The thing I like best about writing is that there is no limit to the number of ways you can express an idea. Everyone has a different writing style, and the way you articulate an idea in writing is unique to each individual. This allows for personal creativity balanced by good judgment, which I think makes writing fun.

Why are you excited about interning at La Torre Communications? 

I am excited about interning at La Torre because it is a small, yet prestigious PR firm located in the political hub of Pennsylvania (Harrisburg). I expect that interning with a smaller firm will give me a bit more experience and responsibility than working in a larger one with dozens of employees.

What is your ultimate career goal?

My ultimate career goal would be to work in PR as a press secretary and to one day become a speech writer for a politician. I love writing speeches and imagining my words being used to politically inspire an audience.

What do you do in your spare time?

As a college student, I love spending time with my friends and sorority sisters. I have met some of the most genuine people at Lebanon Valley College and only wish I had more time to spend with them. I also enjoy reading, and some of my favorite books include Water for Elephants, The Hunger Games and Under the Dome.

What’s your favorite book?

My all-time favorite book is The Great Gatsby. Admittedly, at first when I was assigned to read it in high school… I hated it. However, I have re-read it several times since and have come to absolutely love all of the symbolism and character dynamics throughout the story.

What’s your favorite website?

The website I would consider to be my favorite is Jezebel.com. This is a blog website that provides stories with issues catering more toward a primarily female audience. However, I have found countless, newsworthy stories that could be appreciated by any gender or age. The issues are often described in an amusing and sarcastic way, and all of the stories are quite topical.