Jupiter, FL (August 29, 2011) - Although the summer semester is often viewed as a time of relaxation and recuperation from the rigors of academic study, many students see the summer months as a window of opportunity. This is especially true for students at Florida Atlantic University’s Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, many of whom spent their summers reaching out to their communities, seeking out exciting new experiences, and participating in internships and study abroad programs.

Elizabeth Johnson, a junior at the Honors College, decided to use her summer to complete an internship to complement her academic studies. She wasted no time in being proactive about searching for an opportunity, and soon discovered an internship at the Polk Museum of Art, located close to her home in Lakeland, Florida. “I had always wanted to work at this museum,” states Johnson. “I just went to the website to see if there were internship opportunities, then I called the internship coordinator to apply, and the rest is history.”

During her four-week internship, Johnson worked closely with the Educational Department at the museum, helping to create study materials to be used in an outreach program focused on elementary school students. She also had the opportunity to assist in the creation and management of the exhibits by designing the exhibition layout for a new art collection and by helping to frame and hang several student art exhibitions. Johnson feels that these opportunities directly tie in to her studies in the field of anthropology. “I most enjoyed working on the exhibit design for the new art collection. This particular collection deals with food and culture around the world, which was perfect for my interest in anthropology.” When asked what she felt was the least-enjoyable aspect of her internship, she stated, “My least favorite part was knowing that I wasn't there permanently. The elementary outreach program was really large and is being continued by other interns, but it was hard to pass the project on knowing I wouldn't get to see it through to the end.”

Although Johnson’s time working at the museum only lasted a month, the experience has had a profound effect on her studies and goals for the future. “Part of why I interned at Polk Museum of Art was to find out if Museum Studies is a field I'd like to pursue, and because I enjoyed the experience so much, I've begun brainstorming ways to incorporate museums into my thesis here at the Wilkes Honors College.” She would like to return to the museum at a later date to enhance her knowledge of museum management even more. “I hope to intern at the Museum again, but next time I'd like to work for the Curatorial Department in order to see all the aspects of running a museum.”

Her experiences at the Polk Museum of Art have affected Johnson beyond the realm of her academic goals. She says, “The biggest impact of my experience was the amount of confidence my supervisor instilled in me. After years of school, even in college, I'd gotten used to being told exactly what was expected of me. My supervisor really broke that mold and would just give me general guidelines for a project and let me do it how I thought it should be done.” Johnson admits that having so much authority was unnerving at first. “It was frightening at first to be given so much power, but because she was confident that I could handle it, I became confident, and of all the things I learned during my internship, the cultivation of self-confidence is the one I believe will have the most lasting impact on me.”

As Johnson begins her junior year of studies at FAU’s Wilkes Honors College, she encourages new and returning students to be proactive in seeking out opportunities like the one she discovered at the Polk Museum of Art. She advises her peers, “Just ask. If you have always wanted to work in a particular place or field, do some research and ask about internships. Shoot for your dream internship, but don't be afraid to try something you weren't expecting to do.” Although she originally requested a different internship, the museum felt that her qualifications just weren’t quite strong enough yet. Instead of giving up altogether, she decided to accept a position with the educational department, and was pleasantly surprised by the result. “I ended up loving it, and because I took that risk, I was able to gain the experience needed to intern in the Curatorial Department.” For Johnson, her time working at the museum has been invaluable, and its impact will continue to be felt in her classes and interactions with others. She hopes that her example will show other students at the Wilkes Honors College that their goals are often achievable with just a bit of initiative, an ability to take some risks, and dedication to one’s dreams.

byline: WHC Student Intern Megan Geiger