Walking Taco April 2009

What are you doing this summer?
Cornell students prepare for three months away from the hilltop
As summer approaches, Cornell students are making plans for a few months away from the hilltop. With plans ranging from going home to traveling abroad, including fellowships and internships to volunteer experiences and research, many students are prepared for a productive and enjoyable summer. Even those who stay close to Mount Vernon are able to gain valuable skills and insight into possible careers.

An internship at the Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre is what Lindsay Robinson ’11 is looking forward to this summer. “I’m working as an Assistant to the Director, meaning that I attend all rehearsals and basically absorb as much information as I can” explained Robinson. Robinson, a vocal music major, first heard about this paid internship through her voice teacher and then followed up with Jayne Swanson, Director of Career Services, for guidance on contacting the organization.

Robinson’s past performance experience and connections with her professors helped her secure the internship. She hopes to gain a broad understanding of all that is involved in an opera production. “I would love to sing professionally in an opera company one day, so being able to shadow the director and see not only the rehearsals, but costume and set construction is really exciting!” commented Robinson. After graduating from Cornell, she plans to attend graduate school before pursuing a career in professional singing and hopes that her internship will help to set her apart from others in the field.

“My advice to other people considering an internship would definitely be to start looking early! The earlier you start, the earlier you can establish contact with prospective providers. It’s definitely a first-come, first-served sort of thing. Do your research and really do everything you can to set yourself apart from the other candidates” suggested Robinson.

Liz Wessling ’09 found her summer job through an internship she completed during Block 6 at the ARC of East Central Iowa in Cedar Rapids. Her internship involved creating a theme binder for the Summer Day Program and working with the before school program for children in grades K-5. Her internship supervisor suggested she apply to be a member of the Summer Day Program staff, and even shortened the interview process since she already knew Wessling would be a great candidate.

“I will be helping out with children and adults ages 4-21 with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the Summer Day Program. I will be working Monday through Friday, 9am to 3pm. While there I will organize art activities, swim time, and field trips” explained Wessling. After spending the past two summers working in a trucking warehouse, she is excited to have a career related experience.

Wessling is graduating in May and plans to take courses in music therapy at the University of Iowa and eventually attend graduate school in this discipline. Her experience this summer will be very beneficial as she works toward this goal. “Throughout Cornell, I’ve taken several psychology classes that cover certain disorders, now I can get first-hand experience. I hope this will help me decide if I would like to work in a similar situation in the future” said Wessling.

Wessling highly recommends other students participate in an internship: “The first-hand experience is great and can help you decide if a job ‘fits’ you. While at your internship, don’t be afraid to ask questions!”

Another Cornell student staying close to campus is Ariel Glasman ’11 who will spend her summer as a counselor at Camp Courageous of Iowa in Monticello. She has accepted a paid position at the camp, which is a year-round recreational facility for people of all ages with special needs. Glasman has worked as a respite weekend counselor for the past two years and found out about the position through this experience. The application included basic information, short answer questions, references, a background check, certifications and then an interview process.

Glasman’s previous volunteer experience with the camp’s travel program and her summer working at the Shady Rest Care Center in her hometown of Cascade, IA helped her secure this position. She is looking forward to an active summer that will help her clarify her career path.
“One of the things I’m struggling to decide right now in regards to my field is whether or not to teach kids with behavior disorders, and since camp traditionally sees many campers who have this diagnosis, I am hoping that after this summer I will have more first-hand knowledge to base my final decision on” said Glasman.

After Cornell, Glasman plans to teach special education and knows that her position this summer will be very helpful throughout her career, giving her hands on experience and the ability to apply what she has learned in the classroom. She encourages other students to grow their network and delve into activities and jobs both on and off campus. When Glasman began at Camp Courageous she knew no one; due to her consistent presence and hard-work she was approached by her boss to apply for the summer position.

Glasman encourages all students to seek out experiences that could expand beyond a summer, and once there “be a shining intern- talk to as many people as possible, be respectful, keep your ears and your eyes open.”

Not sure of your summer plans?
Come to Career Services during Walk-In Hours every Monday and Wednesday from 11-12:30 to get started!