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.
Dr. Zac Pilossoph
The very first points of influence that drove me to where I am today as a veterinarian and an evolving entrepreneur can be drawn back to 2018 while pursuing an internship program for Veterinary Neurology. After a very conventional initial graduate schooling period, this experience is where I would be first introduced to the idea of “cannabis medicine,” but not in the way you would expect. This exposure was actually via pet parents who were coming into the clinic and looking to ask questions about incorporating cannabis and its derivatives like CBD into their pets’ lives, so essentially extra-curricular to the internship program itself. Read more>>
Suzanne Potts
When I was a graduate MSW/MPH intern, my second year placement was with a macro-focused, County Commission on Children, Youth and Families. I was eager to learn about budgeting, community work, critical issues facing underserved families and more. Our field liaison quit promptly after recruiting my colleague and I so we started our fall placement with an interim supervisor, who was less than thrilled to have two new students to manage. The Board chair call me, “The Intern” or “Hey Intern” and never took the time to know my name. It was a tough work environment for many reasons and set the tone for me as a supervisor later in life when I had my own students. Certainly kindness, empathy and compassion for being a young student in a bigger environment all weigh on my mind now when I am the supervisor. Read more>>
Jamielie Tarrago
I attended a pretty art-focused public school in northern New Jersey, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan. It was an environment that allowed my creativity to thrive, and growing up so close to New York City only fueled my artistic dreams. One of the more unexpected doors that opened for me came through my school nurse, who was married to the owner of a well-known comedy club in the city. At the time, I didn’t realize just how popular this club was—it was simply my excuse to explore the city and live out my ‘Carrie Bradshaw’ moments. Read more>>