My Summer Internship in Winona
Kate talks about her internship from last summer and how Carleton's summer funding helped her get the most out of her job.
Kate talks about her internship from last summer and how Carleton's summer funding helped her get the most out of her job.
As we are getting closer and closer to the end of term, a lot of students are thinking about what to do with their summers. Whether you are an undeclared first-year student or an almost senior, these summers can be really important to learn about what you want to do. Luckily, Carleton has a lot of resources for supporting students in what they want to do in the summer. Here’s how I was awarded summer funding last year and what it helped me do!
Funding Application
Carleton has a reserve of funding for students who are pursuing unpaid or underpaid internships in the summer. I was asked to work with a professor of mine at a Shakespeare festival, but they could not hire any more paid interns. So that’s where I filled out the summer funding application. I had to explain my job, write about what I would hope to learn, and fill out a spreadsheet to show what expenses I would have. Every year, the Career Center tries to give everyone at least some of the funding they ask for.
My Internship
Receiving Carleton funding allowed me to work on-site as an educational intern at the Great River Shakespeare Festival in Winona. I taught Shakespeare to high school students and also served as the fight coordinator for their production of King Lear.
But my internship was so much more than just my job description. I connected with a group of students and with professional actors alike. I went to see the professional shows for free as part of the company. And I connected with my professor and fellow Carl, which made me feel more confident joining the theater department this term. Even though I was only on-site for 4 weeks (I spent 2 weeks virtually before), being in Winona was honestly a life-changing experience. I’m so glad I was able to take advantage of such an amazing opportunity.
How did Carleton Summer Funding help?
The Carleton funding paid for my housing, food expenses and some travel expenses. This allowed me to work on-site for four weeks. I learned how to live completely on my own, and felt real independence for the first time. Since I worked Tuesday-Saturday, I could also spend two days a week exploring the beautiful city of Winona, Minnesota. Without Carleton funding, it would have been hard to accept an unpaid internship, but I’m so grateful that I was able to experience working without the pressure of paying for room and board.
Requirements During the Internship
By accepting summer funding, I agreed to a list of terms. I was required to take a course online during the duration of my internship. The course is focused on making sure you feel prepared for your job and ensure that it’s a productive learning experience.
Before my job, I had to watch a lot of videos on how to work in a professional setting, which calmed my nerves about working my first job away from home. I also had to have feedback conversations with my supervisor and write a learning plan about what I hoped to get out of my internship. This made sure that I was reflecting on everything, and not just letting the internship overwhelm me. Beyond all of that, I was required to post once a week to a discussion forum, which really was not too stressful. Each week had a different prompt, which kept things interesting.
Presentation
The last requirement after the internship is to present your poster at a symposium in the fall. This might sound really scary, but it honestly was a really cool way to share my experience with the broader community. I did my presentation with my fellow intern Kaelyn, which made it even more fun. Plus, it’s more of a “walk around and ask questions” situation than a “stand up in front of everyone with a practiced speech,” so each person who came over sparked a different conversation.
My summer in Winona was probably my best summer I’ve ever had. I learned a lot, laughed a lot, and I grew up (maybe just a little bit since I was still making a lot of frozen dinners). One of my favorite things about going to Carleton is all of the opportunities within my reach – not only did I receive an internship from one of the professors, but I was also able to experience it fully, even as a first-year student. Even though classes stop in the summer, there are so many other ways to grow and learn outside of the classroom.
Kate (she/her) is a sophomore History major from the Bay Area, California. She loves Carleton’s artsy community, and is involved in both the Theater and Dance department and Vocal Studies Program. Kate’s favorite places on campus are the practice rooms, either in Myers or the Weitz, where she can sing or play the ukulele. She loves the campus during all the seasons, but fall is definitely her favorite. When not in class, you can find Kate either petting the nearest cat or forcing her friends to watch bad movies in a study room.