Internships and apprenticeships are a time-honored rite of passage in many industries. We’ve asked some brilliant folks to share some of the most important lessons they learned during these early experiences in their career.

Thuy Nguyen

While I was in school and learning from different providers, I realized what a privilege it is to be able to be there for patients during very difficult times. There was a moment I was shadowing a doctor in the hospital during my clinical rotations, and he was giving a patient her prognosis. They trusted him so much and even asked him to pray for them. He was so kind and honest during this scary time, he told them the truth and they were so appreciative. Read more>>

Joshua Jackson

When I was a undergraduate student at the University of north Texas I built confidence as a personal trainer I was the strongest in my life working two 3 positions already before graduation. One of the most important jobs I had as a contractor was in senior living it was there I met one of my best friends and mentors I had a large base of knowledge but I was very ridged on how I directed people. I had to learn to train individuals by meeting them in the middle some of the clients I was working with were above the age of 90 years old. Read more>>

Bob Pappanduros

I grew up working in my Dad’s hot dog joint on Chicago’s southside. I learned from the start to treat employees with care and respect. They’re folks working hard alongside you, often doing the same jobs. Making customers happy, getting along with fellow employees, caring about the job they do. That starts at the top, by example. But it wasn’t a calculated strategy,It was how he treated and related to people. Read more>>

Molly Zive

When I started graduate school at USC for social work. we had to fill out a form for what interests us in our first internship. I vividly remember wanting to work with children. I had worked for a year in a locked psychiatric facility with adults and I wanted a change of pace. I wanted to see people live freely, expressive themselves openly and tap into their creative nature who better to demonstrate this than kids, right? I ended up landing an internship at the state prison. I held so many emotions at this time before starting terrified, sad I didn’t get the internship I wanted, excited to be challenged, hopeful I could make a difference and eager to learn as much as possible. Read more>>

Jonathan Perazzo

Before becoming a lawyer I decided to make sure that it was right for me. I worked at the Florida Stat Attorney’s Office as a Victim/Witness Counselor and got a first hand view of the impact I could make. After law school, my parents both fell deathly ill and I had to take care of them. I could not work a typical 9-5 job. Instead, I went to “intern” for a well-known attorney. I didn’t ask for a pay check. Instead, I asked for experience; boy, did I get it. I spent every minute there learning the ropes — and doing all the work. I had an unimaginable drive to show my parents what I could do before they passed away and nothing could stop me. Read more>>