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Career Exploration
Career Exploration
This experience has given me more confidence in possibly pursuing a career in the museum realm. Before this class, I had very little idea of the kind of work that goes into exhibit conception and construction, but now after this experience I have more of a grasp on what that job looks like.
I graduate with my BA in December 2026, and afterwards I hope to attend graduate school. I am still deciding where I want to go, but I am looking into various history, public history, and humanities programs in Virginia. Thinking more short term, I am interning this summer with the Tidewater Queer History Project, with the possibility of developing an in-person or digital exhibit for that organization.
Integrated Learning
Integrated Learning
One of the most valuable skills I worked on through this experience was communication. We had to work collaboratively in a group of 14 to decide all of the factors of the exhibit, so we had to work with the ideas and opinions of 14 different people. I also worked on my skill of editing by proofreading and editing the two additional panels made by my classmates. My writing skills were also further developed by having to write under specific circumstances. We only had 600-800 words and we had to make it digestible and readable to the general public, who may not possess strong reading skills or historical context.
This internship experience gave me a deeper understanding of history and how history professionals will develop exhibits made for public viewing. To understand our assignment, we had to learn about physical and mental accessibility, visual design, and how to write about a complex topic in a way that the most people will understand. Exhibit development is so much more that just writing and research, the audience is the most important thing to consider, but many going into the field are not aware of that.
Professional Communication
Professional Communication
I brought my skills in communication and research writing to the experience, this was not my first internship experience and I have had to work collaboratively with other interns on projects before, so I wasn't intimidated by that idea. My experience in my history courses that require historical writing and research also gave me an advantage in writing my exhibit panel. Both of these factors let me craft a well written and strong exhibit panel that made up the whole exhibition. I picked up these skills in my humanities classes, where I learned how to research and then examine and explain that research and writing, and also learned how to navigate collaborative projects and experiences.
My analytical skills allowed me to brainstorm and come up with unique ideas to contribute to the project. That skill also helped me to find good resources to pull from for my writing, ones that were not only relevant but also academic and accurate. My ethical reasoning helped me to really understand the project and what tyranny and rebellion really mean not only to me but to the people during the period of the Revolutionary War.
Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
The final product, the exhibit on display in the Perry Library, was the most rewarding part of this internship experience. Most undergrads do not get the opportunity to have their research and work on display and seen by hundreds of people. This being a collaborative project made it even better, as we got to show what can be created when students come together and create something unique and meaningful.
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