Has this experience been a rewarding one for you? Why or Why not (keep it positive, if you had negative experiences, focus on what you learned- make yourself look good!)? How has the reality of your internship matched or contrasted with your expectations? What is the most important learning you did during your internship?
Yes, very much it has been a rewarding experience for me. I cannot express that enough. This place has been great for me. I feel like I’m at home here, and I’ve loved getting to learn all I can about the experience and honestly about myself. I truly enjoyed getting to feel more self-sufficient, and I cannot express enough how nice it is to be treated like an adult. Plus, working on the newsletter has been a great experience. I have been able to take criticism easier, and experienced that feeling of having to actually try on a piece of writing. Because, I hadn’t really needed to present something professional to someone before. So, that has really helped the maturity of my writing.
As for my expectations of this internship, I don’t really know what I was expecting. I guess I assumed that I was about to be the slave of the company, like, the person that everyone gives the projects that they don’t want to do. While that is kind of what I do actually do, its not that bad. I mean, it can be boring and tedious, but I never step back and actually think that I don’t like it here. Lighthouse is great. I still somehow enjoy myself, even when I really should not be enjoying myself, and I still love to complete my work, no matter how many times I’ve completed it before.
What is the most important thing I’ve learned? I have to tell you, its myself. that sounds super cliche, and I hate to use that, but its true. Its showed me why I love what I do, which is writing, and its also showed me what I am going to hate about writing. The long hours, the impossible expectations, the creative drain, and especially the ever present possibility of rejection. All of that is present, and yet I want to keep going. Part of that is due to Lighthouse. So for that, I thank them, and hope when the end of this internship comes around, it won’t be the last time I see those stone lions out front.
Blog #9 What have you seen or experienced in your internship that has inspired you the most on your own artistic journey? Has this experience changed your artistic ambitions? How?
Okay, to start this off, I don’t see a ton there other than my computer screen, or a document I have to work with, so that would be why I’m not mentioning anything like that. But what I’ve experienced that has inspired me on my artistic journey? I can’t say that there is something that sticks out to me. I might say that seeing organization methods of my coworkers helps, because it helps me with my own, as I am not the most organized person in the world. But really, I think it would be the commutative effort that everyone gives to the projects we wok on. There isn’t ever a project that people outside of Lighthouse will see. everyone works on it, so its perfect.
I think this has influenced my own ambitions. Its helped me realized that the artistic process, especially for a writer, does not have to be alone. While the better part of the work that I invest into the project is completely going to be my own, I can also communicate my problems to others. I don’t have to edit everything alone, I can have a friend look at it and highlight some changes that need to be made. I can have someone look through the plot of the story, and possibly even the plan and everything else to give me opinions on story decisions. So, yes, it has helped with that. And I am very grateful to see all of that come to life. This internship continues to be great.
Question #8 How is your internship project going? Describe the progress of your project. How did the conversation about your project go with your sponsor? (If you haven’t discussed the project with your sponsor yet, how do you plan to do so?) Did they have good insights into how to improve or expand the project? How does your project bridge what you do at your internship and what you like to create for yourself? Has your relationship with your sponsor evolved as you have engaged in a creative dialogue about your project? Are there any challenges you are experiencing planning or doing your project?
Alright, lotsa stuff to get through here, so lets get cracking.
But before I get into it, let me explain what my project is. I am writing a short story. It was something I was doing before I started thinking about the project, and something I was thinking about even before school, so that made things much simpler. And I will also be submitting it to some writers of fiction at Lighthouse for their opinions and critiques of it. And then, hopefully, I’ll finish it, and then try and get it published at Lighthouse’s Lit Fest.
But anyway, on to the question. First, my project is going well… its basically a project that I’m doing in class, but with a few other things added to make it more “Lighthouse-y”. So, I just write, and edit, and prepare my project for people to look at it, and it all is coming together.
As for the conversation with my sponsor, well, it went well and she seemed ready to help. In fact, she was the one who suggested this project for me. So, she seems supportive of it. She also suggested bringing in people from Lighthouse to look at it, and edit it. And that is actually how this project would bridge my personal work with my work at Lighthouse. I usually work on something here, and then present it to others for polishing.
So, for my relationship evolving with Kim… I really don’t think so. I mean, she knows I’m interested in stories, and writing, but she kind of knew that already. So, I don’t think there were any changes significant enough to get into. And other than the usual Writer’s Block, and procrastination challenges, there really isn’t anything getting in my way for creating the project.
Anyway, yeah, I think that’s all the questions for this week, adios!
Weekly Blog Question #7
What is the difference between working on personal art projects and working in a creative business? What have you learned about working in a creative business?
I have noticed that working on art projects on my own tends to be a lot harder, and thus probably a lot more rewarding. But there are so many things that separate personal projects and work projects. A big one is the timeline. A lot of the time in creative projects that I work on, I usually work whenever I have the time and the motivation. But that can’t be the case when I’m working for someone. I usually have to have it done essentially ASAP, which is just a whole new feeling. Another thing is the quality of the work. When I’m working on my own projects, I tend to leave little typos in there, and am just not as thorough. But, when that work has to be presented to my coworkers, I tend to try harder. And a really big one, I have to follow the company’s style. Lighthouse has a policy on all of its work. It all has to be the same style, and it all has to have the exact same grammar preferences. And that too can be frustrating.
As for what I’ve learned about working in a creative business? I guess that people are usually nice, and they are really people too. And they’re usually fairly carefree about hours, work-time, and deadlines. But that’s also probably only if you do your work, and put as much as you can into it. I think overall what I’ve learned is that these places can sometimes seem like everything is carefree, and everyone is fine with everything, right up until you’re reminded that this is in fact a professional workplace.
Weekly Blog Question #6
How do people at work treat you? How does it make you feel? If you
have in intern one day will you treat them the same? What have you learned so far from your co-workers and sponsor?
I get respect at Lighthouse. Most of the time, as I’ve stated before, they just leave me alone. But when someone needs to talk to me, they honestly treat me as an equal. I had a vision the first time I heard “intern” for this program as being treated as a nothing. Someone who everyone could dump whatever they wanted on. I don’t know why, that’s just what sprung to mind. So, anyway, yes, I get treated well, its nice. It makes me feel good. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be treated well? Who wouldn’t want to feel good about the place they are working at, and the people they are working with?
The next question confused me for a second… I assume that you mean “If you have an intern one way, will you treat them the same?” And if that’s the case, then pretty similar. I might tell them more about what I do, let them in on more of the inner workings of whatever I’m doing, and I don’t know, give them a decent selection of working snacks to choose from. I don’t know what it is about a good snack, but it really gets me working well. So, I’d probably have a better snack selection. But other then that, yeah, really nothing would change.
An, and yes, what have I learned so far? Well, one major change that I think I’ve made is that I am a lot better at writing articles now, than I was at the beginning. And not only writing them, but also including all the little parts to them, like links, pictures, and advertisements. I’ve also gotten a little more self directed, and learned how to work without any help from people. And yeah, that’s about it… (Never know how to end these)
Weekly Blog Question #5
How do you feel like your internship is going so far? What are the highlights and the “lowlights”? Do you feel like you are making connections with your co-workers? What can you do to improve your experience?
Well, my internship seems like its going well. I’m still working on what ever they give me, and enjoying it for the most part. Ad I think my quality of work is okay. I mean, I know that I am no where near theirs, they’re professionals who have done this for years. But, I feel like despite the mistakes and obvious immaturity that I show in what I do, I still feel that it is at least decent for an intern. And that’s all I can hope for right?
As for highlights and lowlights… well, one highlight I have seen consistently is again, giving me the space to do what I have too. I also got to start the November newsletter in advance, and I gave it a different sort of twist that I’m interested in seeing what they think of it. As for lowlights, well I’m not looking forward to the snow on Monday, that might be tough to manage during my ride on Tuesday. And I do feel like a bit of an outcast in the workplace. I suppose that is kind of how an intern is supposed to feel, but its still unsettling. And also, Kim hasn’t been into work as much, because of a variety of different reasons, so its been difficult to get a solid project going.
As I said before, I do still feel like a bit of an outcast, but I do know most of them now. I think Dan is one of my favorites. along with the leads of the company, Mike and Andrea, they are all really, really nice, and easy to talk too. That’s not saying that I dislike the rest, but I think they weren’t as tired and busy as the rest, so they were more ready to open up and talk.
Lastly, how can I improve my experience? Well, I’d like to get into a little tougher stuff. And it would be nice to be able to interact with people more. Like, one on one. But how it is work, its fine. I don’t know that I would do much to change the experience, just so that its a stable environment that I don;t have to adjust too every now and then.
Weekly Blog Question #4 What are you responsible for in your workplace? What do you think is your main contribution to your work site? What do your day to day duties look like?
Well, to start this off, in my workplace, I really don’t look like I actually work there. I typically come in, get my instructions for the day, and then plop down in some random, quiet corner. I probably look like some interloper on the workplace. So, when it comes to responsibilities, I don’t really have any that aren’t implied. Get my work done is an obvious one. Don’t be loud, or distracting. And if you use the kitchen, or any thing in it, make sure its ready for the next person to use. I don’t think it goes beyond that. Which makes sense to me, it goes back to the professional work space that I talk about. They treat me like they’d want to be treated, other than a few minor things.
As for my main contributions, I think its mostly doing the things that other people don’t want to do. Now, that sounds bad. Its like their shoving the worst work my way. But, its more that they could be doing much more productive things than rewriting entire scripts onto a Word doc, or the infamous photocopying. And that’s fine with me. I just like being there. And having to do more menial tasks is perfectly fine. I’m tired after school anyway, and this is usually enough to keep me motivated for homework later, but not draining enough so I can’t do it well. And when they do give me a tougher project, I definitely don’t shy away from it. I just have to be a little more conservative with my energy. So, to answer both questions, my main contribution to Lighthouse, and my daily duties are usually just things that would slow down, or be recognized as menial for the rest of the staff.
Weekly Blog Question #3
How do your actions affect your
workplace? Do you contribute
positively? How do your co-workers
actions affect your internship? Which
co-workers are you connecting with?
Well lets see, my actions in the workplace don’t seem to help a lot on the surface. But I’m pretty sure that they help a lot behind the scenes. Because, honestly Lighthouse probably doesn’t need an intern, but because they have one, I just do the things that would be time consuming for the actual workers. So, like the oil in an engine, rather than playing a function, it just helps the entire thing run better and faster. Although I try and contribute in any way I can. I think that just as long as I’m not in anyone’s way, and getting my work done, I am helping in a positive way.
As for my co-workers, I’d say that they don’t interact with me too often, when they do, its usually to give me work, so I’d say that my co-worker’s actions just help me learn, and help me fit in a little better. And I’m actually connecting with all of them. I actually set up meetings with everyone at Lighthouse, so that I could get to know everyone better. But the one’s I have gotten to know the best are probably Kim, Genna, and Corey, along with my fellow intern, Amaya, who continues to be a great way for me to connect better with the people at Lighthouse. And most of that has been through working with them on documents, or just workplace interactions. So, as, as a recap, my internship continues to be interesting, and enjoyable. And I am finally getting to know everyone at Lighthouse. Oh, and I concluded that I would definitely love to work thee when I am older.
Blog Question #2- –What was the best thing that
happened this week at your
internship? How did it make you
feel? What else makes you excited
about your internship?
So, this week was nice. It was kind of laid back, mostly because Kimberly’s daughter was sick. And, I even got to meet that daughter. She seemed fine, and happy. Although I can’t quite remember her name. Last week, I really didn’t get to write about, so I’m just going to pop in, and say that it was good, I get to meet the college intern, Amaya, and hang up flyers with her. And I also got to do a back ground check on everyone at the internship. Apparently I would be a decent stalker, because I found a lot of accomplishments. But, anyway, back to this week.
Honestly, my favorite part was getting to work in the library upstairs. I didn’t have much work to do, so I left earlier than usual, and Dan (Manzaneras, Manzanes, I dunno), he was nice, and the library is incredibly peaceful. It was perfect to work in. And I continued to enjoy the really nice and easy going environment they have over there.
But, that was Tuesday. Thursday was an entirely different story. I had a lot of work to do. It was mostly menial tasks, and stuff that really didn’t take too much brainpower to accomplish, but, to be honest, I liked it again. I liked finishing it, clearing tasks like mile markers on a long bike ride. And even though there was such a steep contrast between the two days, I really liked both.
So, what makes me excited about the internship? Just, what else am I going to find out about this place, these people, and myself during this time here.
Blog Question #1- What did you learn from your first week at your internship? Did anything surprise you? Who did you meet and what do they do? Did you engage in any code switching?
Alright, so, my first week was kind of awesome. I mean, to some people, I’m sure that it would have been absolutely dreadfully boring. But to me, it was actually really exciting. I got to write an article on their special website for doing so, along with learn how to use said program. I also got to just work. I mean, its probably surprising to some, but it was really nice to be able to just, work.
I mean, I was actually surprised when they left me to myself. I cannot express enough how good it felt to be treated like a professional, or at least, as professional as I can be. They gave me work, work that actually took me time and energy, and I enjoyed doing it. Again, very strange, but yeah, doing work that actually meant something felt just perfect.
As for who I’ve met, the main person is my sponsor, Kimberly, who is basically just the person who tells me what I need to do. And while I’m not sure exactly what she does, it does have something to do with the youth programs they have over there, as she is the director of them. I also met the rest of the people over there, although I really didn’t get to know anyone but Genna, who a program director. But, I really don’t work with anyone, I just work on things that other people use later. I also met Jesaka Long, who runs the Young Author’s Collective, and I helped her with her translating the scribbles that her kids put on their pages.
Now, code switching. I mean, I think I switched to be, just a professional, because I’m really not otherwise. And, I can probably get away with saying that I switched the kind of writing that I do, from the creative, Fantasy/SciFi stuff I do, to more of a happy and light article writer. And that was, well, interesting. I mean, I liked to write a more professional style piece, and I liked having it edited. But, it was difficult sometimes figuring out how to actually write like that. But overall, the entire experience was enjoyable, and I’m looking forward to continuing my semester over there.