As a player, Haley Dumiak learned how to apply video, game plans, and practice to succeed on the court. In the summer of 2023, she interned at a company in Indianapolis and learned how to apply business plans to achieve success away from the athletic arena.

This is the third of a series of Q&As on University of Rochester student-athletes' internship experiences authored by Dennis O'Donnell.

You are majoring in Political Science and you have a double minor in International Relations and Spanish. How do all three of those tie together?
Political Science and International Relations at Rochester tie together very closely, as a lot of the classes overlap. When I was looking at courses to take for my major, I found that I was drawn to a lot of the classes having to do with political economy and global affairs. Additionally, I felt that Spanish could be beneficial in international business and overall strengthen my communication skills.
 
This summer, you interned in the sales division for Belden, Inc., located in Indianapolis, IN. How did you discover the internship?
I learned about it through a website called Ripplematch! It's a career-matching platform that was super helpful when trying to find a summer internship.
 
What made the internship appealing to you?
Going into the internship search, I knew I wanted one where I would be doing something sales and marketing related. Outside of that, I liked how the internship was in person, and in a new place I'd never been to. I felt that would help me grow as a young professional and push me outside of my comfort zone.
 
How was the application process? Did you do Zoom calls with the people at Belden?
The process consisted of multiple Zoom calls with people in the sales division at Belden.​​ The people I met through interviewing were very kind and I got to meet them in person once I started working there, which was pretty cool!
 
What did they have you do on a daily basis?
My daily life as an intern would consist of working in a project-based environment. I analyzed data for effective sales strategies and gained a better understanding of what exactly Belden does.
 
Was there a part of the internship that you really liked?
I loved being able to spend time with my coworkers in the office. Getting to know students from different colleges, and working with them on certain projects was very beneficial and fun.

Were you out of the office regularly as part of the job?
I was out of the office only a couple of times, but I got to travel to Denver, Colorado, and Reno, Nevada for distributor visits and conventions which was enjoyable.
 
Which of your classes was most helpful in preparing you for the internship? Why?
I would say that my classes surrounding political economy were most helpful in preparing me for my internship. It gave me a broader understanding of economic systems and their implications, along with teaching me how to analyze market forces.
 
This is your senior year. Will you come back for graduate school and play?
I'm currently undecided on whether or not I'll play another year. I'm focused on enjoying my senior year and making the most of it!
 
What made the University appealing as a place to play and a place to study?
This University is unique in the sense that it gives athletes the opportunity to thrive in their sport while also getting a strong education from a great school. From an academic standpoint, U of R has so many major options where students have the freedom to choose a lot of different paths, which I find very appealing.