Real Stories

Reynaldo Colon
Place of Internship: Puerto Rico Olympic Committee (PROC), San Juan, Puerto Rico
Major: Sports Management, emphasis on Marketing and Promotions
Hometown: Bayamón, Puerto Rico

A typical day during my internship was based on starting my work with checking my e-mail for any new projects assigned by my supervisor for that day. Usually, my supervisor would be at his office different hours every day depending on his agenda. Everyday I would have projects on which I would have to work with precision because the time factor was very important.

The most memorable experience while interning at the Olympic Committee was when the Governor of Puerto Rico, Aníbal Acevedo Vilá, received all of the athletes who participated during the Central-American Games in Cartagena, Colombia. During this activity, I had the opportunity to meet Governor Acevedo Vilá, and to share the afternoon with the President of the PROC, Héctor Cardona.

During the internship experience I learned to improve my time management skills and to develop my ability to multitask. As far as my career goals, I learned that there are many branches inside this field that I would like to explore.

To all of those students interested in doing an internship, I wish you a time to enjoy and to take advantage of learning new skills and developing what you already know. Today, most of the employers require experience, which most of the college graduates don’t have. An internship, in my opinion, is the best way to obtain that experience.

Kara Overweg
Place of Internship: Avera Queen of Peace Hospital and Kmart Pharmacy
Major: Biology
Hometown: Mt. Vernon

I completed two internships last summer, one in retail and one in a hospital setting. At the Kmart Pharmacy internship, I was very busy all day and the hours went by fast. I did a lot of filling scripts, inventory, and even making calls to nurses to confirm meds/doses. I was very busy all day and the hours went by fast.

At the hospital I learned about what drugs affect what body levels and what the range is for these levels, which was all monitored on computer. I did rounds with the pharmacists, doing inventory on proper meds/doses that were in patients’ carts and dispensing them if necessary. I also went on consults with the patient/spouse for new medicines they were prescribed. Being on the trauma call to the ER after a car/semi accident was the most memorable experience of my internship.

I learned that I am most comfortable in a fast-paced setting where I need to multitask. These internships confirmed for me that I want to pursue the pharmacy field.

Should you do an internship? Absolutely. It introduces you to the real world and lets you get good hands-on experience.

Jill Viedt
Place of Internship: Department of Social Services in Winner, SD
Major: Human Services and Business Management
Hometown: Winner

I did not really have a typical day. Every day was different. Some days I would be transporting children to see their siblings, their parents or taking them to medical appointments. I would supervise visits in many different towns so that the children's workers did not have to go. I did a lot of traveling around the state of South Dakota. Some days I would go to court with the workers or I would have to go with the workers to remove children. My days were always different and there was always something going on.

One of my most memorable experiences was when the grandmother of one of the children that was in our care gave me a star quilt. I had supervised several visits with this child and her family and the grandmother wanted to show her appreciation to me. I was very honored to receive this gift.

This internship allowed me to realize how important a positive influence can be in these children's lives. This internship made me stronger as a person and made me realize how much I truly enjoy helping people. In some ways I will be forever attached to the children I met this summer. This internship made me realize that some day I would truly enjoy working for child protection because helping a child is one of the best feelings a person can have.

I would tell other students that they should definitely do an internship. Internships allow you to see if this field is something you are truly interested in before you are in it. This internship made me realize that I could do this job someday. However, if I had not done this I might never have decided on this field. The experience I gained from this internship was amazing and so beneficial. I am already looking into doing an internship for my business major so I can gain experience in that field, too.

I created schedules, hired umpires, made phone calls, directed other employees, ran the volleyball leagues, helped run the softball leagues and helped with advertising.

My most memorable experience was my evaluation. I received an ‘outstanding’ rating on each criteria and was offered a management position!

Even though they offered me an upper level job, I learned that I would probably not want to pursue this as a career field right now; but it does offer an intriguing option later down the road.

Keaton Cummings
Major: Biology
Place of Internship: Avera McKennan Sports Medicine Center, Sioux Falls
Hometown: Rapid City

I worked with a physical therapist who had rehab patients. The most memorable and rewarding part of my experience was seeing patients who were so grateful and appreciative of the progress they made through rehab. This internship experience solidified my future career goals of becoming a physical therapist. It was so interesting and I learned exactly what physical therapists experience on a day-to-day basis.

I would strongly recommend getting as many internship hours as possible because it is so rewarding. Someone with an internship will benefit as they apply for graduate school. Also, having an internship in your future career field is the closest thing you can do to actually working in the field, which means you will have a better idea if that is the occupation you want to pursue.