The Internship?
Written By Asia Howe
“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.” – Gail Devers
While Terri Pinyerd’s decision to engage in an internship with a man who waltzed into her ENG 300 class promising to pay students for blogging ended in an accomplishment, her achievement was not a very outstanding one. But then again, internships are like mystery goodie bags or kids: Once in a blue moon (or more frequently, depending on an individual), an atrocity crops up. The sophomore, an English major, spent a few minutes discussing a taxing, albeit no less educational, experience. Of particular interest? Her tangible accomplishment—a grant.
Due to the quality of Pinyerd’s internship, the author has decided to keep the name of her mentor and his business anonymous.
The petite brunette spent her winter break writing more than just a business proposal, but various mission statements for her mentor’s online items. Regarding her work schedule, Pinyerd says, “I did not have a formal work schedule; I kept track of my own hours and worked from home. We corresponded through email and the occasional conference call. I am a full-time student at UHH and I also have a job on campus, so it did give me a lot of freedom.” She mentions, however, that the freedom often became unpredictability for she was left uncertain about how and when to call on her mentor.
Pinyerd commented on how her major helped her navigate the job. “The internship required a lot of writing … business-related writing as opposed to creative writing or research. When my class was approached with the offer to work, [I] was under the impression that we would be writing for a general subject blog; only on accepting the offer was I informed that it was business writing. Still, I have taken a variety of writing courses and, I used my experience to the best of my abilities to come up with something as professional and creative as possible.”
Terri Pinyerd, UH Hilo sophomore and English major. Photo courtesy of Terri Pinyerd.
Even though the internship may have been anything but a dream, the sophomore did come away with knowledge. “I now know how to write a simple and succinct business proposal,” she states. “But most of what I learned was about being assertive in the workplace. Oftentimes I had to be a bit pushy to get the information I needed in a timely manner. At first I felt embarrassed, but I got the job done and in the end that [is] what really matters.” She goes on, “I definitely know now that business writing is not my cup of tea. I wanted to try a variety of English-related career paths and this experience has helped me narrow [the possible paths] down.”
Pinyerd was promised payment for her time and assistance; yet, her mentor has outright refused to relinquish her earnings. Tom DeWitt, Director of the Office of Applied Learning Experiences (ALEX) cautions against students engaging internships that are not sanctioned by the university or coordinated through an internship office, such as ALEX, on campus. “If approached by an employer with the possibility of performing an internship, students are encouraged to engage the ALEX office, as we or another office on campus can help to clarify expectations for both parties involved through the use of a learning contract and serve as an intermediary between student and internship provider should problems arise,” said DeWitt.
This experience has not dampened the sophomore’s attitude toward internships. “All in all,” she adds, “internships are great. This [was] my second; the first was with Rozett’s Nursery and even resulted in a job that lasted several years! You gain valuable experience and connections. Both internships made me narrow down my aspirations for the future, and now I know what I truly want to pursue is a future as a professor of English literature. My only advice [about interning] would be to make sure that the internship … is from a trustworthy and professional source; it [is] definitely frustrating to work in an overly casual environment, and very confusing as well.”
UH Hilo offers numerous internship opportunities, some for credit and experience, and some just for experience. Either way, an internship will not only convey the experience an individual has to future schools and employers, but give him/her the knowledge and skills he/she needs to succeed in life. Pinyerd’s internship was not associated with UH Hilo.
Students who wish to embark on an internship should visit the Office of Applied Learning Experiences (ALEX) Journey to Success webpage.
