Smithsonian

Writing Intern

May 2023 • Washington, DC

What I liked

Working at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage while embracing a backpacking adventure in Nicaragua brought about a host of pros and a single con that emerged due to time zone differences. Despite this minor setback, the experience overall was nothing short of lovely, amazing, and awesome. One of the most significant pros of this job was the unparalleled flexibility it offered. The ability to blend remote work with travel allowed you to immerse yourself in the cultural richness of Nicaragua while contributing to a meaningful cause. This flexibility extended beyond physical location, granting me the autonomy to tailor my work to my surroundings and personal schedule, enhancing both my productivity and work-life balance. My supervisor, Charlie, played a crucial role in making this experience truly exceptional. Their understanding of my circumstances (i.e. getting sick) and willingness to accommodate your travel schedule and time zone constraints demonstrated their support and commitment to my success. This not only eased any potential challenges but also fostered a positive and collaborative work environment, enabling me to fully embrace the diverse cultural landscape I was exploring.

What I wish was different

While the con of time zone differences temporarily posed a challenge to participating in writing workshops, it was far outweighed by the incredible benefits of the experience. The combination of cultural immersion, flexible work arrangements, and a supportive supervisor made this job a remarkable opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the center's mission while savoring the beauty of Nicaragua. My sentiments of love for this experience echo the profound impact it will have on my professional growth and personal journey. I wouldn't change anything.

Advice

Be willing to explore different cultures and delve into a story that you find interesting to work on.

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Social Media Intern

June - August 2022 • Washington, DC

What I liked

I liked how I was ingrained in the team and my ideas were valued

What I wish was different

I wish that the projects I was given were more balanced, because I felt like I had a slow start and didn't get to fully complete everything since I ran out of time.

Advice

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Video Production Intern

June - August 2021 • Washington, DC

What I liked

I was a video production intern for the Air & Space Museum and I honestly loved everything! I loved the people, the projects, and even the meetings were fun. I also liked that my supervisor gave me the opportunity and space to learn things at my own pace with projects and encouraged me to get as creative as I could with them.

What I wish was different

A couple things. 1. The museum higher ups outside of my team shot down a lot of good ideas that would help the museum stay up to date with the social media landscape, trends, platforms, etc. 2. The summer internship was remote so I definitely wish it could’ve been in person but I also wish the internship program helped us get to know the other interns in the program. Maybe like a weekly zoom with activities? There was a trivia zoom at the very end that everyone was super engaged in and having fun and I wish we did more of those earlier.

Advice

say yes to everything! I said yes to helping with projects that were outside of my team and in different but similar departments and it was great experience and really helped me meet a lot of people and understand the scope of the museum.

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