Learning Reflections Round # 4: Oct. 6 - Oct. 20

It is hard to believe, but the Fall Semester at Aurora University is almost over. Yay for me as I am graduating in December! Many of my fellow classmates, however, are on the lookout for internships.

Did you know that nowadays finding an internship is almost as difficult as finding a job? Especially unpaid, for-credit internship?

I was surprised to learn that one of my classmates applied for internships at three different companies. One company declined her application, and the other two never responded.

According to Simon Pullin of milkround.com, a website specializing in opportunities for school grads and job seekers, there are at least 100 applicants per internship for the hottest job fields – IT, marketing and business. Read more about the fierce competition for lending the right internship in this article.

And if you are an Aurora University student from the Adult Degree Completion Program, and if you are on the brink of pulling your hair out as a result of your fruitless attempts to find the right for-credit internship, please don’t give up! The counselors from the Career Center will give you great tips on how to find the internship that is right for your professional growth. They will also advise you on how to manage the insanity of balancing job, family and internship, but don’t expect miracles. You will (many times) struggle to keep it together, and you will count the days until graduation comes and saves you from all the learning experiences associated with being a college student.

With this being said, now that I am half-way through my internship at the Fox Valley Park District, people ask me all the time if it is worth completing an internship instead of just taking a class. Without a doubt – yes.

For those of you who have asked me how I have found my internship – I am hoping that this post will help you a little bit when it is time for you to begin the hunt for the right internship.

I remember how it all started. Several months ago, Dr. Toby Arquette and I were discussing potential ideas for my senior capstone project. I wanted to work on a PR related project. He suggested that a not-for-profit organization would be the best fit for my ideas. As I was sitting in Dr. Arquette’s office, I knew right the way which organization I wanted go with – you guessed it right – the  Fox Valley Park District. It was a no brainer – I had a great personal experience with various of their programs. And for two years my son attended preschool at the Eola Community Center. Two happy years, during which my little boy learned his colors, his ABCs and his numbers – while I was sitting comfortably  in the lobby – waiting for him, browsing through all the fliers, brochures and activity guides of the FVPD – with absolutely no idea that some day I will be working on those activity guides as a marketing intern.

But let’s go back to my senior capstone project. I met with Jeff Long, public relations manager at the FVPD, shared my ideas for my assignment with him, and had the chance to meet some of the people from the marketing department. I was impressed by their friendliness and professionalism. When it was time for me to search for an internship, I decided to ask Jeff if it would be acceptable to complete my internship at the FVPD. With the approval of Human Resources Department, he said yes.

As the saying goes, the rest is history.

And now, Dr. Arquette, after addressing my classmates, I will go into details of what I have learned during the last two weeks as an intern, as I know that this is what interests you the most.

Since I am half-way through my internship, I decided to go back to my original learning objectives and to cross out the ones that I have already accomplished. This will help me to concentrate on the goals that I still need to work on during the next few weeks.

Accomplished Learning Objectives

• Improve my communication interpersonal skills - During my internship I am in constant communication (face-to-face, emails) with superiors, staff members and costumers of the FVPD. I am striving to interact with them in a positive and productive manner. I am also learning the language used in public relations/marketing, and I am completing assignments by the requested deadline.

• Expand my professional network - I am creating new professional contacts by working on group projects, such as the Winter Activity Guide. I have also had the opportunity to participate in the special event Zombie Invasion 5K, during which I helped with bag checking and with giving information to people to make sure that the event runs smoothly and that everybody has a scary good time.

• Expand my social media experience  - During the last few weeks, I have been updating the Flickr account of the FVPD. Almost 10, 000 photos grouped into 46 sets are in there right now! Not bad for starting from only 75 photos. And when I see that some sets have received more than 700 views, I know that my work had made an impact and that I have contributed to the marketing department of the FVPD. Facebook is on the agenda for the next few weeks.

• Improve my research skills  - I have researched the social media channels used by the FVPD competitors, such as the Bolingbrook Park District and the Naperville Park District in order to see what I can learn from them and to implement it in my future internship's efforts.

• Spreading the word about the FVPD special events  - I updated the event calendars of Oaklee's Family Guide, TribLocal and Daily Herald with information about the upcoming special events for the months of October, November, December, January and February.