OliviaGuthrow

April4,2014
Period6
LeadershipinAction
InternshipReflectionJournal

WhenaskedwhichareaofstudyIwouldlikemyinternshiptofocuson,I
answeredwithoutadoubt,science.IhaveknownmyentirelifethatIwantedtopursuea
careerinvolvingscience(dentistry,marinebiology,ordermatology),andalthoughover
timeIhavewaiveredonthespecificoccupation,Irealizedscienceexperiencewaswhat
Ineeded.BeforebeginningmyinternshipattheSciencemuseumofVirginia,Mrs.
Branchinformedmethatthestudentwhointernedtherelastyearhadreporteditfelt
morelikevolunteeringthaninterning.But,asIenjoyvolunteeringandhavealways
lovedtheSciencemuseum,IdecideditwasstillaplaceIwantedtoexperienceworking
at.AsIbeganmyregularinterningIdiscoveredMrs.Branchswarningwasexactlyright.
Itwasprettyexclusivelyvolunteering.TheuniformIwasrequiredtowearliterallyhad
VOLUNTEERemblazonedontheback.But,unhindered,Ireadilyparticipated,observed
andinteractedasIwasinstructedtodo.Iwasplacedonadailyscheduleworkinghour
shiftswithactivitiesrangingfromwalkingthegalleriesandansweringquestionsto
helpingtrainratsforRatBasketball.Iwasevenaskedtowatchseveralofthe
demonstrationsincludingcoweyedissectionsandvariouslabswiththeintentofhaving
melearnthepresentationsforsaiddemonstrationshowever,giventhelimitedofhoursI
wouldbeworkingthereitwasunrealisticformetolearnanyofthepresentationsintheir
entirety.Althoughthereweremomentsofinactivityandborderlineboredom,ingeneralI
wasabletoworkwiththeMuseumstaffdoingactivitiesthattaughtmecountlessnew
things.
HereenlieswhereIappliedthequote,Leadershipandlearningare
indispensabletoeachother(JFK).Iwentintomyinternshipexpectingacertain
atmospherewithcertaintasksIwouldbeaskedtofulfill,butwhatIdiscoveredwas
somethingcompletelydifferent.Likeasponge,Ilistenedforhoursonendtosomeofthe
smartestpeopleIhaveevermetonthemostdiversenumberoftopics,andItriedto
absorbeverybitofknowledgeIcould.Fromthere,Iwasabletotalktotheguestsofthe
museumandgiveshortexplanationsoncertainexhibits.Withoutlisteningandlearning,I
wouldnothavebeenabletospeaksoknowinglytotheguests.OnexhibitsIhadgonein
knowingnexttonothingabout,Iwalkedoutofmyinternshipbeingverycomfortablewith
thesubjectmatter,thankstomyenthusiasticandhelpfulcoworkers.Ineverthoughtthat
thepeoplewouldmakemyexperiencemorethanthetasksIwascompleting.
Perhapsworkinginamuseumisntinmyfuture,butIamstillconfidentinmy
aspirationstostudyscienceincollegeandbeyond.SimilartoworkingatAngelosItalian
Restaurant,IdontthinkitsnecessarilythespecificskillsthatIamlearningthatare
important.IntenyearsitsnotgoingtomatterifIcantrainarattoplaybasketball.Butthe
processoftakinginstructionandinteractingwithothersasateamwillmatterbecauseit
willmakemeabetterworkerandpersonoverall.Iprobablywillnotworkwithsnakesin
mycareer,buttheskilltoovercomefearsandpushmyselfoutsideofmycomfortzoneis
somethingIwillcarrywithmeforever.