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.

Ashley Reese

When I was just starting out as an intern in aesthetics, there was one moment that’s stuck with me ever since. I was shadowing an experienced injector during a lip filler session, and the client was really nervous—almost shaking. As we went through the process, I could see how the injector took the time to reassure her, explaining every step with such calm and confidence. By the end, the client was thrilled with the results and even teared up, telling us how beautiful and confident she felt. Read more>>

Heather Meads

My first internship was at Charming Shoppes, Inc. Charming Shoppes owns popular plus size clothing brands like Lane Bryant and Catherines. I worked on a small team of four and we managed a new brand named Sonsi. It was an online shop where customers could shop multiple brands all in one place. My manager, Jill Hutchison, was kind, innovative and a talented marketer. I enjoyed watching her lead. The confidence that she exuded when sharing her ideas or presenting to the larger team was inspiring. She led with grace but was firm when working with her team. When the summer ended and my internship was over, I felt empowered to grow as a leader and to stand confident in my capabilities.  Read more>>

Jody Angel

I had a patient with low back pain come in to the chiropractic school clinic when I was intern. After telling him I believed his back pain was due to tight muscles and stiff joints, he looked at me and asked “how do you know it is not cancer?” I was taken aback for a moment because it was so unexpected and actually a fantastic question. I took the time to explain the signs that are considered to be “red flags” for something more serious and how I did not find any during his exam. I explained what I was looking for with each test I performed and how his history did not point towards cancer. t served as an important reminder that most people do not come in simply because of pain. Yes, pain relief is most patient’s goal, however it is not what brings them in. Read more>>