Karishma Kesapragada ’26 on the Journey of Writing at Midstory

Describe what you’re doing this summer in your internship.

At Midstory, a non-profit thinkhub and literary publication, I spend my time writing and editing articles! An article starts with a pitch that is then thoroughly researched and outlined — think interviews, databases, and long first drafts. This summer I have been working on an article that centers Cleveland’s iconic West Side Market. I have interviewed vendors at the market and sifted through numerous articles and city pledges regarding the management and future of the market — including a 90-page ledger of the market’s past, present, and future. In addition, I also curate social media posts on historic landmarks and cities of the Midwest and helped organize an exhibit on Asian identity in the Toledo Public Library.

How did Oberlin shape or influence you to pursue this internship? (For example – was there a particular class you took or a professor that inspired you? Did you discover a particular area of study you didn’t realize before?) 

After taking the Writing & Communication class, Literary Journalism, with Professor Hal Sundt, I fell in love with creative nonfiction. The class represented a personally unexplored written world that felt truly memorable. Literary Journalism sharpened my research skills, which have become invaluable at a literary publication that often takes a historic lens to its articles, and gave me confidence in my writing which has served me well through what can often be long editing processes. That attitude of being open to edits and learning and changing when it comes to writing is the greatest insight Oberlin has given me. It’s very easy to shut down during the writing process when we see a wall of edits on our words, our hard work. Literary Journalism was a class firmly rooted in optimism: a first draft is a wonderful thing and so are its edits. I feel so lucky to have both a school and an employer that champions optimism in writing.

How does pursuing this internship align with your post-college life and career goals? 

In my post-college life, I want to work for publications centered around culture and history as I feel we have the most to learn from those areas. Midstory’s commitment to telling the stories of the Midwest, to giving back to its community, is a core value of mine that I want to carry with me into my career. In addition to appealing to personal values, Midstory has also given me the space to get the hang of more journalistic writing. I’ve spent a lot of time honing my writing skills in analytical and creative writing so expanding my writing repertoire has been such an interesting learning experience.

Is there anything you’ve learned this summer from your internship that has been particularly noteworthy or surprising?

A huge part of my internship has been about exploring Toledo: its lush Metroparks system, its Picasso-laden art museum, and its humming coffee shops that are perfect for young writers. I find my love for a city where I’ve only spent a summer to be quite pleasantly surprising.

If you're interested in a summer internship, connect with Career Exploration & Development to learn more about exploring career interests, gaining real-world experience, and developing a professional network.