Here we go again!

Since graduating I have been wanting to do a post about the benefits of internships. When I was in school I heard multiple times from instructors that I should pursue an internship opportunity.  I did not follow their sage advise, there was always something else to do or some other responsibility. After graduating with a bachelors in history and not investing the time to seek out an internship I would like to encourage all history students out there to get an internship.  As the philosopher George Santayana said "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Alright, that may a trite quote for a history blog however I would like others to learn from my mistake. I didn’t pay much attention to my short coming till after I graduated and by then it was too late.  Searching for a job definitely made me realize the necessity for history students to get internships or at least volunteer. It was volunteering at the National Civil War Chaplain’s Museum that helped me land a job at The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library. Museums often have limited funds to hire employees, so they use volunteers and when a position does open up they typically hire from within a pool of candidates that they are familiar with i.e. those volunteers or those interns. Needless to say I was very blessed to receive a job in my field with the experience of an internship. Internships, even unpaid internships, are doorways into jobs.  This is especially true for workers in the history field.

 

I am also happy to announce my acceptance into the Public History program at James Madison University.  I am trying to prepare myself for a very busy year ahead of me.  I will be taking three classes (full time) participating in a teacher’s assistantship and continuing to work at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library on the weekends.  I am hoping a master’s in Public History will make me more desirable to employers in my field.  Here we go again!