(Editor’s note: This is the 11th in a series of stories about students in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications completing summer internships.)
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A little bit of fate and a lot of focus have shaped Jezenia Marrero’s so-far successful college career, and those traits also offer a strong foundation for the rest of her time at Penn State and beyond.
Marrero, a first-generation student from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, applied to Penn State after an online search for universities with rolling admission deadlines. She had been accepted to a school closer to home, but its communications program was not as strong as she wanted, so she was looking for another option.
After finding information about Penn State’s application process online, Marrero dug deeper and discovered the many strengths in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. She also connected with some students already at Penn State.
“It seemed like this could be the place for me. Everything I saw indicated you could get involved right away as a student, and the resources were impressive,” Marrero said.
The students were impressive as well — accomplished, hardworking and talented.
Now as a rising junior, Marrero clearly fits in that group. This summer she secured an internship with Warner Bros. Discovery in Atlanta. She’s been working as a sports production intern with TNT Sports. The position has offered everything from hands-on video editing opportunities to networking, shadowing and event support.
She’s supported shows related to Major League Baseball, NASCAR and the WNBA. Plus, the network carried the FIFA Club World Cup this summer. The experience has been all Marrero expected and more.
It’s been a complement to her previous internship with Penn State Athletics as well as roles with student produced TV shows like “Culture Central” and “Penn State Sports Night.” She’s also a member of the Association of Women in Sports Media.
Her move from south Florida to central Pennsylvania has influenced her approach on campus.
“It’s not like the beach is right down the road or you can go to your favorite mall with a short drive — and that’s been good for me. You have to be really focused, and that’s what I’ve been doing,” Marrero said. “This is my grinding season. I don’t want to miss anything or regret anything.
“I’m still able to have time with my friends, but if there’s a game or something on a Friday night or weekend, they know that’s my priority.”
Marrero has been assertive, curious and talkative since elementary school. Her grandmother, Mary Huntley, who was a teacher at her elementary school, encouraged Marrero to be strong and willing to share her thoughts — even if that meant Huntley needed to gently remind her colleagues that the smart, talkative girl did not need to be toned down.
That support was important for Marrero, as was the influence of a church youth leader and mentor, Ryan Nelson. With group trips to sporting events, she learned a little more about sports, and his work in lifestyle communications helped to broaden Marrero’s understanding of journalism and its impact.
Marrero, the youngest of three children in her family, also understands the importance of networking. Along with her ample hands-on experience, she has consistently sought out older students and Penn State alumni for advice. She met alumna Lisa Salters, the longest-tenured sideline reporter for “Monday Night Football” and an integral part of ESPN’s coverage of the NBA, during a campus visit. And Marrero consistently works to broaden her network.
As she looks ahead — both this semester with more opportunities on campus and farther down the road as maybe a studio host or in some to-be-determined role for her professional career — she knows her focus as a student will pay off. At that point, her future will not be left to fate.