Welcome to the team, Amy.

If you’ve been to the SWITS headquarters lately, you may have seen a new face around the office. Amy Polenske joins as an intern until May as part of the SWITS internship program. While we have her around the office, let’s get to know a little about her.

Throughout the year, SWITS has several interns from UW-Milwaukee who are are on their way to earning their master’s degree in language, literature, and translation. Amy joined us on January 7 and will stay until May. Her internship responsibilities include translating from Spanish into English, editing, proofreading, and project management. She also helps in marketing and learning the inner working of a language company.

“I decided to pursue an internship with SWITS because I liked the atmosphere of working here.”

“With a smaller office, everyone knows my name and I feel like a more important part of the company’s overall goals. I enjoy working on new projects every day, and being given important responsibilities.”

Who is Amy?

In her own words: “I am from West Bend, Wisconsin, and currently live in Milwaukee. I became bilingual mostly though consistently taking Spanish classes in school, beginning as a freshman in high school. From my high school Spanish classes, I learned that I really loved the language and that led me to study Spanish as a major in college.”

“During my undergraduate study, I traveled to Madrid as part of a Summer Study Abroad Program in 2010. I also traveled to Honduras in 2011 with a volunteer group. Both of these experiences allowed me to practice my Spanish skills and enjoy the diverse cultures there.”

So, where did Amy go to school?
“I attended UW-Milwaukee and earned a BA in Spanish in 2011. Then I went on to pursue an MA in Translation, also at UW-Milwaukee. I will be graduating from the Master’s program this May. I am also currently a Spanish instructor at UW-Milwaukee, teaching first-semester Spanish to undergraduate students.”

“I heard about SWITS through the Graduate Program of Translation at UW-Milwaukee. When I was looking to find an internship, they recommended SWITS because past UW-Milwaukee interns have had good experiences working here.”

“I am always looking for ways to further my language skills so I am thrilled to have the opportunity to intern with SWITS in the Translations Department. After I graduate in May, I hope to start a career in the language services industry so this is a great learning experience for me.”

“The most satisfying aspect of working as a language service provider is that every assignment is unique. Working in the language services industry is never boring because there are always new and exciting projects to contribute to, and I learn new things every day.”

However, it can’t all be work. How does our new intern like to unwind?
“I spend a lot of time outdoors at state parks or by Lake Michigan in the summer. During the winter, I stay busy by reading and making use of my fairly large movie collection. I also enjoy fashion and interior design so I am always looking for new and creative ways to liven up my home and wardrobe.”

Next time you’re visiting, say hi to Amy. She can help you with a translation or sartorial advice.