Since I have started college my goal has been to go outside of my comfort zone. I found that putting myself out there was something new. The risks to my ego would be worth it, in the end, if it led me to experiences that would help me both as a person and a professional. It took me a year to warm up to the idea completely. Now that I am a senior at Florida State I have mastered the art of believing in myself and going for goals that may seem out of reach at first glance.
After interning for two summers with the National Library of Medicine (Rare Book and Early Manuscripts), I found that Washington, D.C. was the perfect place to grow. As I worked through my second to last semester at Florida State I found that I was becoming restless. I loved my classes and was learning about a plethora of subjects, but I was also missing something very important. I missed the feeling of being immersed in the actual work aspect of the library and museum fields.
I formulated a plan. I was considering going to graduate school in the D.C. area anyways, so there was no reason to wait around to move to the area. The number of internships in D.C. for museums and libraries is truly astounding, but I had my eye set on another federal internship. After applying to 11 different internships with the Smithsonian, National Park Service, and National Archives I really did not know what was going to happen. What I did know was that I was taking a risk by leaving the comfort of my Floridian family, dorm room and job to add new experiences to my life story.
When I received the email from the Smithsonian's Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, I found it hard not to jump out of my chair. This moment of excitement and non professionalism was pocketed as I read over the project I would be working on- the Asch Folkways Digitization Project. This internship was perfect. It included my love of folklife, interest in archives, and added to my past digitization experiences.
Applying to all of these internships helped me to see that you really do have to see what you are capable of- or what other people think you are capable of. In a world that is so competitive, there is no room to be hesitant or shy. Every class you take, every person you meet or professor who you interact can teach you something about life and help you to see your potential. Applying to these internships was just another way of learning. If I had sold myself short in the beginning I would have never even glanced at the Smithsonian internships and found myself in this fantastic situation. My advice: never think about your competition, only think about what you can do to made a stronger person out of yourself. The type of strength you wish to achieve? Well, that's up to you!
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