By Sabrina LaVopa, intern in the Editorial, Design, and Production Department
Growing up, I always had a natural love for reading. I remember staying in from recess to finish just one more chapter in elementary school, taking my book to lunch in middle school, and pulling what most people would consider an inadvisable number of all-nighters in high school. To put it simply, I loved books.
When I was young, I loved books for the magical potential they held, each new volume opening a gateway of possibilities. I could get lost for hours at a time in the local library, picking books off the shelf to take home and hoard in my room for the next week. Reading was my escape from reality, my friend in times of peril, my favorite form of relaxation. When everything else around me was changing, I knew I could always rely on a good book to cheer me up and keep me steady.
Because of my attachments to reading, when my senior year of high school came around and people started asking, “What are you going to do in college?” I had a ready-made answer just for them: I would be an English major! But when faced with the follow-up question of “What are you going to do with that degree?” I was stumped.
When I got to the University of Florida, I was determined to explore the different possibilities and career paths available to English majors. Equipped with a box of my favorite novels from home, I moved into my new life in Gainesville. Fresh from the constrictive environment of high school, I was filled with energy and enthusiasm at the thought of finding my calling here at the university.
In the fall semester of my junior year, I applied to the University Press of Florida (UPF) for the Editorial, Design, and Production intern position. This decision had been a long time coming, as I had seen the call for applicants in previous semesters, but hadn’t thought that the experience would be the right fit for my interests. However, after learning more about UPF’s mission and impact, I decided to give it a shot. In the end, this decision turned out to be a pivotal move, sparking my curiosity and passion for publishing.
Interning at UPF has given me invaluable knowledge of the systems and techniques used behind the scenes before a book gets published. Learning about the extensive review, editing, and critique processes that go into publishing and writing has not only deepened my appreciation for the teams behind my favorite books but also made me more excited about future career opportunities in publishing. Reinforcing my passion for English literature through a new avenue, I have come to enjoy the crucial analytical processes that contribute to the practical side of publishing. Throughout the internship, I have come to love not only the reading, but all the bits and pieces that go along with it. From refining the texts to editing formatting issues and cataloging manuscripts in online databases, my passion for literature has grown with every new task.
Sabrina LaVopa is an undergraduate student in English and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies at the University of Florida. After graduation, she plans to pursue a JD with a focus on public interest work.