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.

Jacqueline Robertson

Nine months into my 3,000 clinical hours, I found myself working at a community addiction clinic, seeing clients who were fighting every day to free themselves from heroin. I was showing up five days a week, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., seeing eight clients a day. I believed deeply in the work, but the pace was brutal. I was pouring everything I had into my clients and the work, and forgot about pacing myself. Read more>>

Megan Frazier

I went out on my first job as an intern with J&M special effects in Brooklyn, Ny. I was with the main designer for the company on a small Netflix shoot and I was terribly shy. During lunch, I sat in a corner alone and was truly afraid to speak to people. After, the person I was working with came up to me and asked where I had been, I explained and his response sticks with me to this day. Read more>>

Kate Keovongkoth

When you get into the group fitness industry, you are expected to perform. You go through training and learn all the where, what, why, when, and how of your discipline but there really is little to no education that can be given to prepare for the negative feedback you receive. When I first started teaching Pilates as an apprentice, I knew I wanted my personality to shine and I wanted to conduct my classes in a manner that is fun and challenging. Sounds absolutely lovely, doesn’t it? After a few successful weeks of teaching, I had finally encountered the first time a client, that was part of the group class, told me that my class was absolute trash. Read more>>

Matthew Lewis

My internship was undertaken at the prestigious Blue Hill at Stone Barns, which at the time I began had recently been ranked on the San Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. I was in awe of the place, the talent, the challenge, and my own good fortune. I remember the hope and the pressure when staging (professional tryout or brief educational opportunity), and the triumph at being given the opportunity. I remember being so excited to live in the off-site housing for the interns, as it meant I could live and breathe my passion with others who share it. It was a culmination of everything I was working towards, and I launched into it with a passion. Read more>>

Lela Geist

I often think back to my time as a music therapy intern at a behavioral health hospital. I learned so much during that experience. Not just about the field of music therapy, but about connecting with people, about life, and about myself. Two moments from that time stand out to me, and I find myself returning to them often because they’re such clear examples of how powerful music can be in this setting. Read more>>

Ana

The most eye-opening realization early on in my career was that some of the most meaningful lessons only come when we’re willing to make mistakes. As artists we often strive for perfection but it’s through experience and feedback from others that we grow. Read more>>

Kirsten Guilliams

Attending my first continuing education class was a nerve wracking experience. I was less than a year out of school, still trying to find my footing, and totally unsure of my technique/capabilities as a therapist. Now I was about to be surrounded by a dozen practitioners that had been in the field for 10, 15, 20+ years, longer than myself. So there I was, sitting in my seat, desperately trying to subdue my anxiety, and fear judgment. That’s when Carrie Taylor introduced herself and started our day. I was blown away both by the seemingly unending wealth of knowledge that she possessed, and the confidence in which she carried herself as she lectured. Was it intimidating being in class? 100%. Read more>>