May 4: The Last Blogpost
Finally, since this is our last blog post (yes, you read that right, congratulations!), what are the larger takeaways you’ve learned from this experience? (I'm hoping this can be more philosophical in nature and not a rehash of the skills you discussed last week.) Can you boil down those larger takeaways.
On the teaching end, I know what mine is! Though I started this term feeling pretty organized and clear on the expectations, the world had vastly different plans. And so, a lot of that organization changed. As did my expectations, I read some meme that said something like, "Students won't necessarily remember the material you taught, but they'll remember the way you supported them beyond the material." I've tried to take that to heart by way of my online "book club" and the postcards and responding to the posts, etc, etc. And I think that meme could be reversed, too. I admit, I may not remember all your blogposts, or even all your placements. But I'll definitely remember your humanity and team player attitude and trust, etc.
Your turn. Thanks again for a great term. Looking forward to our final classes today and on May 11!
-BJ
On the teaching end, I know what mine is! Though I started this term feeling pretty organized and clear on the expectations, the world had vastly different plans. And so, a lot of that organization changed. As did my expectations, I read some meme that said something like, "Students won't necessarily remember the material you taught, but they'll remember the way you supported them beyond the material." I've tried to take that to heart by way of my online "book club" and the postcards and responding to the posts, etc, etc. And I think that meme could be reversed, too. I admit, I may not remember all your blogposts, or even all your placements. But I'll definitely remember your humanity and team player attitude and trust, etc.
Your turn. Thanks again for a great term. Looking forward to our final classes today and on May 11!
-BJ
I participated in this internship last spring semester, and boy did I get a vastly different experience this semester. I had already decided that doing this internship again was worth it to improve upon the skills I learned and the connections I had already made, but I could never have imagined the new challenges I would have to face. I think this switch to online work in an education system built around in-person classes has been horribly unpleasant for everyone, but I think it also taught us a lot about adaptability, responsibility, and perseverance. I am very grateful to my site supervisors for their patience and flexibility with my situation. They both were always kind and attentive to the interns’ needs, and I think those traits have definitely benefited us while we navigated these uncertain times. I personally really struggled with reorganizing my life to suit an all-online learning/working environment, and I still don’t think I’ve got it quite right. This time crunch to get all our material in has taught me how to quickly assess and prioritize the most important tasks I need to get done and how best to communicate with professors and peers on the tasks that I am struggling on. Overall, I’ve found a new gratitude for what I have been able to learn and accomplish despite the challenges, and how to take care of my mental health when I criticize myself for not doing enough. I hope something that everyone takes away from the larger, global experience we’re all going through, no matter what role of life, is how to display kindness and understanding towards other humans. Even without a global crisis, everyone has challenges they have to overcome, and I think it’s important that we learn how to communicate through our challenges, offer support to those who are suffering, and reach out for help when we recognize we need it.
ReplyDeleteFantastic. I hear this: "Overall, I’ve found a new gratitude for what I have been able to learn and accomplish despite the challenges, and how to take care of my mental health when I criticize myself for not doing enough." I think we all need to find our own way forward, and I'm glad you've continued to find a balance that works for you.
DeleteOur internship experience has taught me a lot more about responsibility in the "real job" world--I think that my biggest takeaway is learning to manage pressure and stress healthily while balancing personal life with work/student life. Large credit loads are already difficult to deal with as a student, but I think that the internship somewhat helped balance the kind of stress I was getting and the way I dealt with it. One of the best ways I was able to deal with stress like this was realizing it's okay (and often encouraged) to ask others for help if you need it, in and out of the working world. I realized that a lot of things that tend to stress me out are things that I know other people can help me with, but I won't asked them. I shifted my mindset to being willing or enthusiastic about asking for help when I know I need it. It feels a lot better to ask for help than to struggle with difficult things on your own, and a lot more people than you think can help you with a lot of that. Sometimes, people are struggling with the same thing you are, and they're in a similar position. Paraphrased: help is good, and we all need it sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI'd quote the Joe Cocker/ Beatles lyrics about "getting by with a little help from my friends" but I worry I may receive a cease and desist order...JK. You're right, of course. Knowing when to ask for help, and how to communicate your needs in a workplace environment, is essential. Love this: "my biggest takeaway is learning to manage pressure and stress healthily while balancing personal life with work/student life." Yes, indeed!
DeleteI think the biggest takeaway for me from my internship experience was that flexibility is key in both internships and in professional job settings as well. With the virus happening, it has been really important for me to still keep up with my internship even though it has drastically changed. It was hard to adjust to not seeing my supervisor in person at first but eventually it all worked out. I think it is really important to show that you are versatile to your employers. And even before the virus I was very flexible as well as I did a large variety of tasks for my advisor. I was willing to do things I had never done, and I think that is something that is really important.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, I think I have learned a lot about myself as well as I now know that there are some things I enjoy doing and some that I don’t. Coming into this internship experience, I really hoped that it would help me figure out what I want to do as a future job. I don’t think I necessarily know quite yet after this experience, but I am really happy I was able to gain the skills that I did through this experience. And it gave me a really great opportunity to work in a professional setting which is something I lacked experience with.
Sometimes simply learning that you're continuing your journey is lesson enough. My first internship (well, more of a shadowing, really) was with a stockbroker, then a dentist. I learned what wasn't for me, and in doing so, set my compass to a place where I was better suited.
DeleteOne of the most obvious takeaways for everyone in this class, and, ironically one of my top 5 strengths, is adaptability. Switching from in-person classes and internships to online classes and online internships (or like me, a complete cancellation of an internship) took a great amount of flexibility and adaptability on everyones part. I personally tried to be as positive as possible. I just took it, and still am taking, this pandemic one day at a time. That is the only way to keep myself sane and to adapt for the better. However, despite the circumstances, I am truly grateful for this opportunity. Now more than ever, I think it is important to be grateful for as many things as possible. Although my internship at WEAU-13 was short-lived, I learned a great deal about what it takes to run a news station. I also learned a lot about myself. I learned that I can adapt to my surroundings, am comfortable interacting with all kinds of people, learned how to ask specific questions, and other English related skills! I am so happy I gained a valuable experience and published articles :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for all this enthusiasm , Julie. I know your internship experience was a particularly rough road given WEAU's policies, but thankfully your adaptability strength saw you through!
DeleteI think my internship experience helped me step out of my comfort zone a lot more, not only in terms of social interaction but also in trying to balance my internship among the other things I was doing simultaneously.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't hard for me to get comfortable in new situations, but it does take a little bit. Unfortunately, given the shortened in-person time I had with my internship, I never quite got there with showing up to the V1 office; everyone was super nice, don't get me wrong, but it's always kind of hard to say your piece when everyone is silently working on things (that and, as I mentioned previously, my work station literally faced in the opposite direction of everyone else, which I don't think lent to my integration in the office very well). However, it was really good for me to not be in my comfort zone with this internship because it's one of the only professional experiences I've had in college that made me feel that way. In this light, V1 has prepared me for moving onto bigger things because it showed me that it's okay and normal not to be totally comfortable in a new setting after the first day.
My comfort zone was also tested with the work I was doing with V1. I interviewed a lot of interesting people that I would have never talked to otherwise--the biggest examples of this would be 1. the interview I conducted with Xin Obaid about her Chinese tea studio, where afterwards, she invited me to have tea with her and we spent two hours just talking and hanging out and 2. the phone interview I got to have with Courtney Mack, who made her Broadway debut this year in one of my favorite shows. Both were really great experiences for me, and made me excited for future possibilities.
Finally, this was the busiest semester I've ever had. It was probably even the busiest I've ever been in my life (that is, before quarantine happened and kind of slowed everything down). In addition to the five classes I took, I was doing this internship and also working part-time. I like things to be simple and organized, so trying to figure out how to meet deadlines for the internship, my homework, and getting it all done around my work hours was a lot. It was definitely out of my comfort zone, but it helped me hone my time management skills and learn how to keep all of my balls in the air.
Way to transcend the comfort zone and stretch those wings! Though I know, too, hard hard it can be to stretch those wings while holed up and hunkered down. Those interviews sound great. I've so enjoyed reading your pieces, as you know. My best interviews have often been the most anxiety-inducting. But when you're scared, you know you're growing!
DeleteWhat stayed consistent before and after the transition to everything being online, was the support I had from my site coordinator and the other interns. During my first week, I wasn’t able to make it to the staff meeting because it conflicted with my class. Then, when I went into my orientation I realized that there were more people in the office than I had seen in the previous times I had been there and my site coordinator told me that everyone took time out of there days to make an additional staff meeting that I could be a part of. That really set the tone for the rest of the semester. While we were all still working in person, there was always someone happy to answer any of my questions or give me advice. Right before campus closed, we even had plans to take a group training through LTS to work with Illustrator, but it was canceled.
ReplyDeleteOnce we transitioned online, we had a skype meeting with the staff again to talk about how we would proceed as the circumstances changed. Although most of the meeting didn’t have much to do with the project I was working on, I was glad to be included and asked to give my input. I’m glad to have been a part of this team even if this semester didn’t go as planned.
So glad you were present at those meetings. Just being present reveals so much about your commitment to a cause, etc., and can inspire co-workers, too. I know Pam's appreciated having you around. Hope you have a good phone conference today!
DeleteEveryone has struggled to adjust to the online class structure along with all the other world changes occurring during this pandemic. I think for me, the reason this change is so challenging is because it has pushed me to be more disciplined and find all my internal motivation. With classes I had structure and in structure I find an incredible amount of flexibility. With a complete change to every single class and my internship I have found many flaws in myself. I relied on that structure to get out of bed, to live a healthier life, to be productive, to have a comfortable time relaxing. Now I feel like all at once I have everything to do and nothing to do.
ReplyDeleteI have a list of things I am supposed to do everyday, and a list of things I should be working on over all (like my internship) so there feels like I could always be doing something. And when I relax, I feel stressed because there is always more I can do. However, I have no one but myself instructing my life timeline right now. It resulted in staying up later, struggling to get up, I stopped running, and school work was tedious. I have since then corrected a lot of my habits, but a lot of me asked "Why? There's nothing to do." In the end the only answer I had is "I am going to be the person I want to be, not the person I am right now." I think maintaining good habits has helped improve my dedication to school and the internship. Though I still struggle occasionally with the constant stress.
Another thing that I can't ignore is the flexibility and hard work of my teachers. I think this would be harder if most of my teachers hadn't done such a remarkable job of setting up clear expectations with very workable systems. So I think the biggest thing I have learned is the motivation within myself is enough, and as a whole the human race is remarkably resilient and adaptable when it is needed.
Hey, I'm glad your profs can through for you, and your site director, too. As you know, I've really tried hard to teach with empathy as the centerpiece to it all. We can't just let all things go, of course, but we can extend deadlines, change assignments, and otherwise make the world more manageable in small ways. I know I haven't struck a perfect balance, but we're all trying. Thanks for trying too.
DeleteThis whole experience has led me to appreciate our channels of communication a lot more than previously. I'm also really impressed with how the company I work with has been able to adapt and maintain a great morale through all of it. Because this stay-at-home order is a statewide policy, it is an equalizer: all of us are dealing with it in some way. Because of this I'm feeling less hesitant to reach out to others with questions I have. I've just now gotten used to/comfortable with being at home for long periods of time.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, I've learned to give myself a break for once. I suffer from Not Doing Enough Syndrome- where no matter what I'm doing, there's always something else that's more important that I'm ignoring.. I shouldn't be prioritizing my levels of productivity/workflow right now. The first few weeks were incredibly overwhelming and I decided it best to ease up a bit on the amount of work I do. But everyone is doing what they can and is, I think, a bit more understanding of how the situation is affecting others.
So yeah this semester didn't go as planned but it still happened and that's pretty cool.
Ha, not as planned but pretty cool anyway. Nice. I like this: "At the same time, I've learned to give myself a break for once. I suffer from Not Doing Enough Syndrome- where no matter what I'm doing, there's always something else that's more important that I'm ignoring.. I shouldn't be prioritizing my levels of productivity/workflow right now." I suffer from that same syndrome, and it's probably not on my Cliffton Strengths list, that's for sure. But like you, now that I recognize the need for rest, I'm better at getting it. And rejuvenation, too.
DeleteMy internship experience has really helped me to step outside the box. I was in speech in high school, and things had been going ok, but one day at practice, I was able to connect more emotionally, perform a bit more boldly, and really connect with the listener. We called the new breakthrough style being “outside the box.” My coach and I found that there was a marked difference between me performing “in the box” (doing what needed to be done, but not being fully engaged and stretching myself) and “out of the box” (trying new things, asking questions when needed, making mistakes, and growing). So that’s a slightly long-winded way of explaining that I think this internship allowed me to grow through some initial discomfort into more confidence with new situations, asking for help, and trusting my instincts as an interviewer and writer while still being open to feedback. At the beginning, the thought of reaching out to authors was sort of frightening because I’d never done it before, but it got easier with time and practice, and I think that practice has allowed me to write and connect more authentically.
ReplyDeleteBecause the nature of this internship has really been pretty humanistic, namely through interviews that explore deep topics and the value of writing, I feel like I’ve gained a new appreciation for the value of writing and even self-reflection. Hearing inspiring responses from writers who are living through some of the same disorientation as the rest of us has been humbling yet uplifting. I’ve been reminded that it’s difficult for me to write well or connect genuinely if I’ve been racing around and just going through the motions. I think quarantine has made this process easier in some ways and tougher in others; there are fewer demands on my time in some ways, but I’m also less connected to some of the community and rhythms that normally hold me accountable. With that, I feel like this has been a nice experiment in keeping myself motivated and on-task as a writer while still having great support to fall back on and check in with.
I also want to mention that I’ve been extremely grateful for the support I’ve received along the way. Having a great supervisor and teammates to check in with has been encouraging and helpful. Getting to work with the Guild has also reinforced how important community (even virtually) is, especially for creatives. It’s really tough to get through tough times or thrive in smoother seasons without support and community.
Right back at ya! You're right about community--since it's certainly changing forms, I think I've found myself yearning it more than ever. We're all learning the new shapes it takes, but we're figuring it out together! Thanks, A!
DeleteThis semester experience in this class and my internship really solidified my belief that I am self-sufficient. I think that before this internship experience, I was so unsure of my ability to problem-solve myself, and through my amazing internship director I was definitely asked to rely on myself to get assignments done, figure out who I want to interview and edit my articles. Self-reliance is definitely a skill I needed to fine tune, especially with this being my last semester and now it's time to be an actual adult. Learning how to be confident in expressing my opinions and ideas, how to assert myself have all been developed over this semester.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your passion for making the experience this semester feel like an interactive project where student thoughts are appreciated and weighted BJ. Putting excitement to the new steps that come after college definitely helps alleviate the stress and anxiety of job hunting after college.
I'm so glad you feel at least a little less stressed! I feel really great about the progress folks have made, and all credit goes to you and your site directors. The initiative you've all shown is really something. I hope it pays dividends on the job market! Keep at it, Emma! It's always been a pleasure!
DeleteI think one of the greatest skills I took from this experience was the ability to adapt to new situations and environments. Before all the quarantine chaos, I had always considered myself to be a fairly flexible person. After the shutdown, I was surprised how much I struggled to deal with the changes in my schedule and environment. So many things had to be adjusted, pieces we originally planned to write, the way I communicated, and the way I worked all had to be tweaked to fit within the rules of quarantine. Right now, getting the final responses for the last internship project is a bitter-sweet feeling. Even though this wasn’t exactly how I thought my internship (or college) experience would end, I feel that so much of what I learned, whether it was directly from writing or simply learning how to navigate things, I will take with me in the future.
ReplyDeleteI think we've all acquired a new super power: rolling with the proverbial punches. It's been such a pleasure, Maddie, and I know you'll go far. Keep building communities as you do, and bringing your energy and willingness to participate. Being able to adjust writing schedules (and all schedules) is something that's hard for all. But hey, when life demands it, we find a way.
DeleteI definitely learned a lot during this time, not just from both my internships, but from everything going on. Adjusting has been hard, but it's been doable. At WEAU, broadly I learned about the inner workings of a news station. The focus was on finding stories, reporting, and how to get them edited and sent as quickly as possible while still keeping them factually accurate. I also learned about working with other people on stories. Then, at the CVWG, I learned about independence. I worked on finding my own stories, and working from what I wanted to do to how it evolved. I had a lot of fun there, but there was a lot more responsibility. Overall, each place taught a lot of different things. I can only just begin to figure out what lessons I learned where from them, and I know there will be many more I will realize only later in life.
ReplyDelete