Entry by Colleen Borgmeier, Summer Coordinator Intern, PACE Community Action Agency
Pace has always wanted to implement an internship program, but the funds were not available until 2009 when stimulus dollars became available through the American Recovery Reinvestment Act. This Internship Program is providing summer employment opportunities for college students, giving us the opportunity to acquire skills, gain valuable work experience, and help finance our return to school. Opportunities are being offered within Pace facilities in Washington and Vincennes and will run for a 13-week period beginning May 11th and completing August 6th.
As summer coordinator interns, Andrew and I have already learned valuable skills to use next year after graduation. We have been working to monitor the high school workers who have been placed around various small businesses in Vincennes and Washington. We are also organizing and implementing a volunteer day and researching and creating surveys and other documents to help benefit the summer internship and summer youth initiative program now and for future summers.
You may be wondering what it takes to be a successful intern. First of all, knowing what your company is about and their mission will help you better understand your everyday tasks. For example, during our training, we discussed the founding of Pace, programs offered, and also what their mission is and how they accomplish it. This helped us organize our volunteer day, “Race to PACE,” in many ways, such as being able to uphold a professional appearance when speaking with local churches and businesses about their contribution and/or donations to Pace Head Start and Early Head Start. Secondly, it is important to understand your role and tasks as a member of your business. If you are ever unsure of something, it is extremely important to ask your supervisor questions before proceeding with the task, as your supervisor is there specifically for you to come to with questions. Lastly, keep on task. It is easy to want to stray away from your work, but it is important that you stay focused. It will strongly benefit you in the long run when you want to use your internship as a reference on your resume!
To check out what we have been working on with the volunteer day, Race to PACE, follow this link! http://www.pacecaa.org/news_view.asp?news=486
