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KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Combining her love of advertising and sociology, Western Michigan University student Karen Larsen can appeal to diverse audiences through her studies and experiential learning. She believes her curiosity and love for learning is what will set her apart from others.

“I love learning about subcultures, trends, communities and people," Larsen says. "There are so many things that interest me; and advertising, specifically strategy, gives me the opportunity to learn for a living.”

Advertising is all about people, and people are what Larsen knows best. Even if she was unsure of where the perfect fit for her was before committing to her programs, she had supporters who could advise her with plenty of exploration and research.

“In an introductory business class taught by Dr. Karen Lancendorfer, she observed me during our advertising chapter of the class and told me she thought I would be great in the program,” Larsen says.

As a student, the search for internships can be a wobbly one. Obstacles will find their way to block the path to gain experience, but for Larsen, Greg Gerfen, instructor of marketing, was the person to guide her toward something that would benefit her immensely.

“After the internship I hoped to participate in was canceled for reasons outside my control, he not only helped me find a new internship but also offered me advice moving forward,” she says. “I have learned so much in his classes, and I know I can go to him with any problems I am having.”

With the wisdom and guidance of her mentors, Larsen has participated in many different internship positions and has learned what works well for her.

“After my first year 51������ Michigan University, I landed an internship making social media graphics for the Iron Mountain Downtown Development Authority,” she says. “Later on, the event coordinator position opened up and I was asked to fill the opening. We had our highest event attendance on record, we produced a private label wine through the department, and we ran out of wine despite ordering more than triple than we had in years past before I was in the role.”

Continuing to gain further experience during her internships at Green Door Distilling Co. and Doner, Larsen discovered that her passion lies in social media and strategy. From becoming a social media coordinator to working with clients and sharing her ideas with them, Larsen utilizes her strengths to their fullest potential.

There are many new projects that Larsen looks forward to building her skills around to use in her career, proving her adaptability.

“Maybe I can fix a bug on a website, read articles about the distillation process to inspire a new social post or finally figure out a new skill on Photoshop. Advertising requires you to be ready to learn, and learning is one of my favorite things to do,” she says.

The most important piece of advice Larsen has for students still exploring what their passions are is to step outside of the classroom and look around at what the world has to offer.

“You will learn the most from opportunities you seek outside of the classroom. I have interned in event management, for small businesses and for agencies," she says. "I’m a photographer, a writer and a musician. The variety of experiences I’ve had has helped me figure out what I enjoy.”

Larsen’s additional projects can be found on her 

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