Week 3 Assignment: Internships

     In a blog post written by Tim Elmore found at (http://growingleaders.com/) he summarizes the problem of current college graduates not being prepared for the real world and not being prepared for their careers by their internships. He states that the way to get current interns to get more from their internships is to tell them that it is a twelve-week long interview, not something to tweet about or take lightly. He says that above aptitude, though it is sought for and appreciated, attitude is the most important aspect. He says that in the internship world they look for four things in the intern: initiative, teachability, responsibility, and energy.
     (#2) This directly applies to my year long "interview." I will use this in my internship as a reminder that I am constantly being observed and that I should constantly work hard. I will prove my teachability by always staying as late as she needs me, constantly asking questions, always being interested, and always being eager to learn more about photography. I will prove my responsibility by always being on time, always meeting deadlines, always doing what she asks of me and doing it well, and always going above and beyond. I will prove my initiative by always actively seeking out new projects to work on, taking the skills I learn outside of my internship and working on my personal photography, and coming up with new ideas. Lastly, I will prove my energy by being just that- energetic. I will always be enthusiastic, well-rested, and ready to work.
     (#3) The most relevant thing from this article I can apply to my own internship is the very central message, the idea that it is a year long interview. I can not become too comfortable or complacent, I must always be actively working and seeking to gain as much as possible from my internship.

Introduction- Week 1 Assignment

     Interning with a mentor is a very serious undertaking that requires a professional attitude and a very specific sets of skills. The handout detailing tips for meeting your mentor along with the audio clip giving tips for being a part of the work place were incredibly helpful in acquiring said skills. The most important thing listed for both was that the intern, myself, be personal and polite. It encouraged dressing appropriately, making friends with the best and hardest working people in the work place, making eye contact, being friendly, being punctual, being efficient, listening to all instruction, and being a valuable and contributing member of the team. These tips were very helpful and will help me when I first meet my mentor. I intend to utilize all these tips and make my internship a very positive and beneficial part of my high school career.
     I envision myself gaining an even greater passion for photography, a basic understanding of the career as a whole, camera skills, and personal experience in the field. I have always been leaning towards photography and enjoyed in in very amateur forms. I intend to gain a more mature and professional knowledge of photography skills and general work place skills. I will take several specific actions in order to get the most out of my internship, including being punctual, staying overtime if necessary, becoming close with my mentor, being passionate about my work, and putting a lot of hard work in.  This is preparing me for my future as a photographer by showing me what the career I am going into will be like and giving me an edge over other applicants to visual arts programs to specific colleges.