Dijon McCain

Dijon McCain is making the most of his time in the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The professional journalism junior is active in student groups, completed internships, and this semester (Spring 2018) he is studying elsewhere – but not in a foreign country. Through the National Student Exchange program, he is spending this spring at New Jersey City University in Jersey City, New Jersey, while also interning at Black Entertainment Television (BET).

"I love it here so far. I am learning so much each day about the city, people, classes, and the internship. I love the internship [at BET] and I am enjoying networking with the professionals at the company."

McCain has been enjoying the New York and New Jersey lifestyle since his arrival in January. His favorite part is the diversity of the city. Every day is different and exciting, he said. “You’re always seeing something new. I’ve always wanted to branch out, so it’s so cool to have this experience and do that.”

At BET, McCain is a program intern. He looks at show ratings and makes suggestions on ways to schedule episodes, along with anything else they need help with. Despite the three train rides to and from his internship, McCain said the longer commute is worth it. “There are so many great professionals at BET who have been in the television industry for awhile and their willingness to help young people learn and grow is amazing,” McCain said. “People in general love to talk about their passion, but the people over at BET will talk about their passion and then guide you in the right direction to achieving yours.”

A few years ago, McCain doubts he would have taken advantage of a opportunity like this. He transferred from St. Cloud University in the spring of 2016 and had a difficult transition to the University of Minnesota. However, he said the experience of going to a new school and being part of HSJMC helped him have a more positive attitude when faced with adversity and adapting to a new school.

“HSJMC motivates me to want to do more in journalism. I have more confidence in myself and I believe I can do these things,” he said. “I’m glad I’ve grown to the point where I’m able to do this. It’s all a learning experience and I’m trying to experience as much as I can.”

While it may be stressful at times, McCain believes this experience has helped him grow as a person and has given him a new perspective as he looks to post-graduation life. He encourages students to think of National Student Exchange when looking to study elsewhere. “It’s amazing that you can choose so many different universities to attend – people don’t understand how there are hundreds of schools that participate,” he said. “This is an amazing program. [As students], we have all the freedom in the world and in our hands to have these experiences.”

Last summer, Dijon received an internship scholarship and worked in San Francisco at Bleacher Report as a programming intern. After he graduates next spring, McCain hopes to be a media personality or correspondent. “I see myself as ‘the male Oprah’, but I just want a job where I can be myself,” he said.

There are so many opportunities for students to gain experience at the University, and McCain thinks it’s important to take advantage of those. “Students should try to experience as much as they can. Experiment with different clubs. If you’re interested in a specific club, try it. Create your own content,” he said. “There is no perfect time to do it, even if you plan and plan. If you have an idea, just try it.”