Current student, Alice Estrada shared the following about being a Summer Intern at SmartyPants …
What did you do as an intern at this organization?
This summer, I worked as a research intern at Smartypants, supporting a variety of projects. Most of my work involved researching for their documentaries, organizing data into spreadsheets, and compiling detailed research materials. For one project with the Carnegie company, I focused on finding archival footage since there were no existing photos or videos available. I also maintained a tracker to help editors keep footage organized and easily accessible during the editing process.
How did you find this internship?
I first learned about this internship through the Tufts Film and Media Studies website. I had participated in the Winternship program, where I interned with Smartypants for a week, which gave me a great introduction to the company. Leslie Goldberg also told me about the opportunity and mentioned that the founder of Smartypants went to Tufts and that many Tufts alumni are selected for the program. It’s a very competitive internship, and I remember being really drawn to the kind of work the company produces.
What did you enjoy most about your internship?
One of the most rewarding aspects of the internship was the opportunity to connect with people at the company. Even though the internship was remote, I found that it actually created more opportunities for communication and networking. Since everyone was just an email or message away, I was able to reach out to different producers and editors across the company, which might have been harder to do in a traditional in-person setting.
These conversations were incredibly valuable. I was able to ask them about their career paths, what working in the industry is really like, and how they got started after college. I also asked questions about grad school, the production process at Smartypants, and even general advice about navigating a career in film and media. Everyone I spoke with was very open and generous with their time, often hopping on quick calls to share insights and answer my questions.
I think what stood out the most was how approachable and supportive everyone was. It made me feel more confident about reaching out to professionals in the industry and reminded me that people are often willing to share their experiences if you just ask. This part of the internship gave me not only a stronger understanding of the company’s work but also a clearer sense of the different career paths I might want to pursue in the future.
What did you find challenging?
One of the biggest challenges of this internship was keeping myself motivated. Since it was fully remote, it was sometimes difficult to stay focused and really immerse myself in the work I was assigned. Without the structure of being in a physical office or having set times to check in face-to-face, I definitely noticed that it was easier to get distracted or fall into the habit of procrastinating, which is something I don’t enjoy. I realized that I had to take more responsibility for creating structure and accountability for myself.
To manage this, I came up with strategies that helped me stay on track. For example, I would set timers and challenge myself to complete a certain amount of work before the timer went off, which gave me short-term goals to stay motivated. I also learned the importance of taking intentional breaks—stepping outside, stretching my legs, and then coming back to the work with a clearer head. Over time, these small routines helped me build a rhythm and make progress even without external structure.
Looking back, I think this was an important learning experience. It pushed me to develop better self-discipline and time management skills, which I know will be valuable in any professional setting, whether remote or in-person. It also made me more aware of the ways I work best, and I now have strategies I can rely on in the future when I need to stay focused and productive on independent projects.
What advice would you offer to someone who wants to make the most of an internship like yours?
Being remote removed a lot of the barriers that might come with an in-person setting, where it can feel intimidating to approach someone at their desk or wait for the “right time” to talk. Instead, I could simply send a message, and if the person had time, we could set up a quick call. This made networking feel much more natural and less formal, and it allowed me to have conversations that were both insightful and encouraging.
I came to realize that taking initiative in this way is one of the most valuable aspects of a remote internship. By reaching out and asking questions, I not only learned more about the company and the industry but also began building relationships that could support me in the future. It really showed me that the flexibility of remote work isn’t just about time management—it’s also about expanding the range of people you can connect with and learn from.
