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.

Susan Blackburn

When I first began as a Professional in the Photography field, I had very little experience working for clients. I had taken courses in college as electives that were primarily concerned with photography/equipment technique. After graduating college, I had worked in the Garment Industry designing sweaters. Turns out I really disliked the Garment Industry. I ended up working in Commercial Real Estate Development for the CFO of a major firm in Manhattan. That turned out to be an invaluable experience because I learned all about bookkeeping an accounting. It was a real business apprenticeship because accounting is the language of business. Read more>>

Yueran (jamie) Wang

Looking back on my experience working on Neither Donkey Nor Horse, a Student Academy Award-winning short, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the invaluable lessons I gained under the guidance of supervising sound editors Yorkson Liu and Anthony Muffoletto. At the time, I was just beginning my journey in sound design, and this project became a transformative apprenticeship—a rare opportunity to grow by collaborating with and learning from such seasoned professionals. Read more>>

Lakendra Johnson

My journey into clinical work really began with a coveted internship at Ohio University’s counseling center. I can still vividly remember the informational session where I first met Dr. Sheila Williams. While the other panelists have faded from memory, Sheila’s words remain crystal clear. She told me I could come to work exactly as I was, beanie and all. At the time, I was going through what I’ll kindly call an “awkward hair phase,” growing out a faux hawk and hiding under beanies during classes. As a Black woman stepping into a white-dominated space, I carried the weight of wondering how to present myself. Would I be taken seriously? Would I be judged if I didn’t conform to what my fellow interns or faculty expected? Sheila’s simple acceptance of my authentic self was transformative, and I was thrilled when I matched with the counseling center. Read more>>