Internships and apprenticeships, when done right, give interns and apprentices life long lessons. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, these opportunities aren’t accessible to many and so we wanted to invite folks who have had these experiences to share some of the lessons they’ve learned.

Ritchelle Buensuceso

I started my professional editing career as a young, bushy-tailed copyediting apprentice in a large multinational company. Overall I had a great experience there and look back on it with fondness. However, my team leader was a bit aloof and the office culture treated apprentices more like pledges at a fraternity or sorority rather than colleagues. This made the learning process more difficult and more stressful than it needed to be. Copyediting could be stressful, especially for a newbie, because it’s careful and meticulous work (it’s basically taking a grammar test every day, day after day), so a supportive, even forgiving environment is key, instead of a punitive or a critical one. Toward the end of my apprenticeship, I had taken up smoking because of the stress. And although they trained me really well and paid handsomely, I only stayed there for one year and took my skills elsewhere at the first opportunity. Read more>>

Breanna Botten

A time back when I first started my makeup journey in July on 2021, I took my first makeup bootcamp class with Shay Baby. I was surprised at how I fast I caught on and how my interest within the artistry peaked. I also took a “One on One” makeup class with Tiara Darling. I learned so much from her class from color matching to placement and Skin tones. Read more>>

Michael Shaughnessy

In both 2001 and 2009, I had the incredible opportunity to dive into the culinary world alongside Master Chef Jean-Luc Simon and his family in the beautiful Brittany region of France. Chef Jean-Luc, his restaurant staff, and his family didn’t speak English, and my French was very limited. We discovered together that the language of food is a universal language. Together, we shared meals, cooked side by side, and celebrated family gatherings. Read more>>

Beth Rohani

Back when I was an intern at FOX 4 News KDFW, I had an unforgettable experience that played a significant role in shaping my leadership style. Internships are fascinating because they offer a diverse range of experiences, and often, those experiences become the foundation for our future endeavors. Read more>>