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.

Kaitlynne Burns

During my time in college, I had the opportunity to complete three internships that shaped both my career path and leadership style in unique ways. The summer of my junior year was particularly memorable because I worked two internships simultaneously for sister companies—an event company and a Northwoods baseball team. For the event company, I served as the marketing intern, managing digital marketing needs and helping execute event day logistics. On the baseball side, I was the Entertainment and Sponsorship Activation Intern, where I was dubbed “the face of the team.” My days were spent dancing on dugouts, engaging with fans, and running on-field games between innings. Read more>>

Monica Connolly

I never had the opportunity to be an intern or apprentice. But I did have the opportunity to be mentored by several people. When I attended my first personal development event, I was lost. I had spent so long in survival mode that I had forgotten how to dream, much less how to act on those dreams. It was a small event, with just 30 women in the room. Yet, the host made me feel seen and heard in a way I hadn’t felt in years. She asked me to start dreaming again, and for the first time, I allowed myself to believe that maybe I could. That host became my first mentor, and her guidance changed my life. Read more>>

Taylor Mcbrien

In my early 20’s, I’d tried going to college. I did some prerequisite classes while I decided what I really wanted to do, but I realized early on the low return on investment that college was for me. I craved quick, experiential learning, now leaning into the idea of getting into a trade or getting into real estate. Read more>>

Gracie Watt

When I was in college at St. Edward’s, I was a journalism major. I got my first internship at Texas Lifestyle Magazine my sophomore year and I was so excited. That internship sparked my love for lifestyle journalism. My senior year, I decided I wanted to explore the broadcast side of journalism. So I applied to the local lifestyle show, Studio 512. Luckily I ended up getting it and it was a dream come true. The leader of the program was the host of the show, Rosie Newberry, and she taught me almost everything I know today about producing and the world of TV. We didn’t have broadcast classes at my school, so everything I learned was through that internship. I got to produce my own segments, and even go live on TV a few times. It was so nerve-wracking, but also so exhilarating and rewarding. That experience was so invaluable to me, and eventually led to me getting hired at the very same place. I’ve been working there for three years now and am so grateful. Read more>>

Jessica Lee Reader

During my internship at the Nutrition Therapy Institute, I had the chance to intern with several very different practices. Each taught me valuable lessons that have shaped my approach to my nutrition practice. One experience was with a Nutritionist who also practiced Colon Hydrotherapy. She ran a successful practice but used a one-size-fits-all cleanse, handing clients a 20-page protocol without conducting proper intakes or offering personalized support. I remember feeling bad for a client who was given this plan without guidance. She wanted to lose a hundred pounds but had no support or real direction on how to create a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. This experience taught me the importance of truly understanding each client’s unique needs—especially when it comes to gut health and metabolism—and providing tailored care for long-term success. Since then, I’ve made it my mission to ensure my clients feel supported and heard every step of the way. Read more>>

Kiley Dunne Lizama

During my time as an associate clinician, I was assigned to work with a young client who had experienced severe trauma, including childhood sexual abuse. It was one of my first cases involving such complex layers of pain, resilience, and vulnerability. I remember preparing meticulously, poring over therapeutic techniques, and obsessing over getting it “right.” But when I sat with the client, I quickly realized that what they needed most wasn’t a perfect intervention—it was to feel seen and heard. Read more>>

Dr. Paul Fortes

I was an intern in general surgery at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. A significant part of the learning experience as a resident in general surgery was “taking call”, which involved spending 24 36 hours straight in the hospital with my team of other residents and the attending surgeon. Baylor was known for being a very busy tertiary hospital for trauma and for other surgical emergencies. One of my very early experiences was taking care of a patient who was brought to the ER after sustaining major pelvic injuries as a result of an auto-cyclist collision. When he arrived he was evaluated and resuscitated by my trauma team. He sustained major pelvic fractures but did not have other injuries requiring emergency surgery of the abdomen, chest of head. He was managed in the surgical ICU, and it was my responsibility to keep him stable until the orthopedic surgeon on-call was able to evaluate him. Like me, his ICU nurse was young and new to taking care of surgical ICU patients. She and I saw to it that he
receive the necessary transfusions of blood d other IV fluids to keep him stable. After multiple transfusions given rapidly, he stabilized and eventually had orthopedic procedures to repair his pelvis. Read more>>