Gaining Skills And Experience With The Staten Island Historical Society

Megan McCarthy, a History major graduating with the Verrazano Class of 2013, has been interning with the Staten Island Historical Society this semester.  Megan hopes to become a grant writer or research analyst, and below she shares how her internship experience has helped her build skills for her future career.

 

This semester I was given the wonderful opportunity to intern with the Staten Island Historical Society (SIHS).  I became aware of this internship through my advisor from The Verrazano School Honors Program, and it is affiliated with the Internship Stipend Program through the Career and Scholarship Center.  I started the internship towards the end of March and was put right to work on various projects.  When I started the internship, SIHS was in full swing with the BBQ Cook Off and Chili Cook Off.  I was given the task to call and follow up with potential judges for these cook-offs and also for the vendors of the events.  Every time I went into the office, there was a new and exciting task for me to work on.  

I was also assigned to help proofread documents that would be sent out for a grant opportunity or for a mass mailing.  This is going to be a huge benefit for my future career and helped prepare me to pay close attention to detail.  I learned about the process of writing a proposal for a grant and how important it is to keep in close communication  with the grant-sponsoring organization. I have learned that there are many details that go into the grant proposal, such as budgeting and stating what you are going to do with the money that is received.  

I worked the NYC BBQ Cook Off and the Chili Cook Off during the time of my internship.  These events are much different behind the scenes than actually attending as a paying customer.  Being behind the scenes I was given different tasks, but my main project that day was capturing candid photos of the day’s event.  This opportunity allowed me to get more on a personal level with contestants, and both events were a lot of fun to be a part of.

 

Working on a variety of different projects, from following up calls for fundraising to different education programs, I have learned a range of skills that will help benefit me in my future job search.  I have learned to multitask and still get my assigned jobs done in promptly.  This internship is located and associated with Historic Richmond Town, and it’s amazing to see how the organization runs and all the ins and outs of a museum.

This internship introduced me to a lot of great people who I have had an amazing experience working with.  My first day I was nervous, as any person would be, but I was welcomed into their team with open arms and I am very grateful for how wonderful they were to me.  I have enjoyed this opportunity so much that I am thrilled to say that I am going to continue my internship with the Historical Society through the fall.  

To learn more about the Staten Island Historical Society, please visit: http://www.historicrichmondtown.org/.

Exploring Careers Through The Internship Stipend Program

Amanda Percaccio, a Psychology major in the Verrazano Class of 2013, is participating in an internship at Staten Island University Hospital as part of the Internship Stipend Program.  Read below for Amanda's experience in her own words.

Amanda Percaccio

Not only is college a time for learning, but it is also a time for exploration.  Students participate in college events, play a sport, or even complete an internship. Luckily, I have been given a chance to do all three; however, the most important thing to me during my college experience was to complete an internship.  I was lucky enough to get an internship at the Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) and observe pediatric physical therapists at work. My internship experience is especially beneficial because it is my ultimate goal to become a Pediatric Physical Therapist.

I was given this opportunity thanks to the Career and Scholarship Center and an internship program called the Internship Stipend Program.  I received an email from the Career and Scholarship Center asking if I was interested, so I immediately replied yes and filled out an application.  Anyone can apply at any time, and upon completion of the 80 hours internship you must write a 250-500 word essay and then you will receive a $1000 stipend.

During my freshman and sophomore years of college I volunteered at SIUH in the pediatric physical therapy unit.  However, my experiences as a volunteer and as an intern were not identical.  As a volunteer, I mostly dealt with the paperwork and took on the daily duties of a receptionist. As a student intern, I was able to ask the therapists questions and they were happy to share the techniques used and the rationale behind their methods. I was fortunate to have interned under the supervision of a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) who is also a professor at the College of Staten Island in the Physical Therapy Department. He taught me a lot during my experience, and I look forward to learning more from him when I go to graduate school. By the end of the day, I felt I learned a great deal and I can use most of these treatment techniques on my own patients some day.

My duties as an intern were to set up the treatment plans for the therapist to use on the patients. These plans included lining up balance beams, setting the swings up, taking the toys out, setting the treadmill up, and much more. During the sessions, I observed the doctors closely. It was during this time that the therapist explained the plan of action to me. Due to HIPAA laws, they weren’t able to give me the diagnosis unless the parents of the patients provided consent. When the session ended, I cleaned the equipment that was utilized during the session and made sure everything was in its proper place.

I strongly recommend that more students consider completing an internship in their areas of interest. It is the best way to gain invaluable “hands-on” experience, and it is also a great way to network in your prospective field.  

To learn more about the Internship Stipend Program or other services available through the Career and Scholarship Center at the College of Staten Island, please visit 1A-105.