Don’t Leave Empty-Handed

Intern: Brenna Gillis

Major and Year: Psychology, Senior

Hometown: Waukesha, WI

Status: Online

Internship details: Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac, WI

Dates: May 7, 2012 - June 29, 2012

Spanning the nation and representing multiple academic disciplines, we are likely engaging in a wide variety of internship experiences. However, there is one thing that all of us have in common: We are in this to gain something. Of course, that is not the only reason we applied for internships through Regent University – and I am certainly not suggesting that our motivations for serving in an internship capacity are self-centered. But I think each of us could agree that we applied for our internships with the expectation that we would, in some way, benefit. So as Session E 2012 comes to an end, I must ask you – what have you gained?

To be perfectly honest, I had an incredibly difficult time securing an internship placement. My field of study is Psychology, and in the state of Wisconsin, there is very little I can do in the mental health field without credentials following my name. I was told by site after site, “Oh, I’m sorry…we only select interns from graduate programs. Be sure to call us when you’re in grad school!” Then finally, two weeks before the start of Session E, I found the internship opportunity that I had dreamed of: Serving in an inpatient behavioral health unit at a large, local hospital. I was thrilled. Pulling my “professional attire” to the front of my closet, and pondering whether or not to pack my lunches in a cute, patterned lunch bag, I thought about what the next eight weeks of my life would bring. Would this experience propel me toward a fulfilling career? Would I find that I love serving in the mental health field? Would I receive direction regarding graduate education? As it turns out, I gained all of this – but not necessarily in the ways that I had expected.

You see, when we receive something, it does not always come in a neat and pretty package. There are times when a learning opportunity appears by mere chance, or when a personal mistake lands us in a situation that we later consider one of our “defining moments”. Don’t overlook the subtle ways in which your internship site is preparing you for a career in your chosen field; even if you realize that the work you are currently doing is not what you’d like to do long-term, you have still gained valuable insight! For instance, my service in an inpatient behavioral health unit has shown me that I would much prefer outpatient work. I am grateful for being trained to work in an inpatient setting, and I will likely serve in this capacity at some point in my future training; but I value the long-term therapist-client relationships that an outpatient psychologist position affords. With this realization, my education and career goals have become a bit more focused.

Now, I certainly do not want to downplay the importance of Christ-like service and a humble attitude during our internship experiences. As God’s regents on this earth, we are called to bring relief to the oppressed and over-worked (Luke 4:18-19); to offer our bodies and talents as sacrifices to the Lord (Rom. 12:1); to use our diverse physical, intellectual, and spiritual gifts for the glory of God (Rom. 12:4-8); and most importantly, to serve wholeheartedly – as if for the Lord, and not for our earthly supervisors (Eph. 6:7). Indeed, with this sort of attitude, we reap the greatest reward of all: the blessing and favor of our Heavenly Father (Eph. 6:8). I believe that God may also reward our faithful service by planting goals and desires in our hearts that we may have never before realized – or even filling our minds with questions we must ask ourselves before engaging in the next phase of our education or careers. Watch for these tiny (or not so tiny) blessings, and claim them as God-given pieces of insight. (Even a head full of questions is better than a complete lack of direction!)

So I challenge you, regardless of whether this internship experience was everything you had hoped it would be, don’t leave your internship site next week empty-handed. Leave the site knowing that you served it well, but take with you the lessons that your internship experience has surely taught. No doubt, there are manly blessings to claim!

The Hardest Lesson

Intern: Elizabeth Morrison

Major and year: Communications, Junior

Hometown: Hollywood, MD

Status: On campus

Internship details: Leadership Institute, Arlington, VA
Dates: Janurary 18 - April 20, 2012

I am a very driven person, which is inspired by Jeremiah 29:11. My passions revolve around love of country and having every incredible experience possible. I believe you should live life to its fullest and never underestimate what God will do with your life.

I have learned many things during my time at Regent University, such as how to write at a college level, how to research, and what will be expected of me in adulthood. However, one of the most important lessons I learned was not in the classroom but in the office. Internships will teach you many important skills that you will use for a very long time.

I began my internship at Leadership Institute in Arlington, Virginia in January. I decided to leave school for the semester and have some real world experience. My internship was unique because not only did they provide the interns housing (there were 12 of us), but they also gave us a monthly stipend. In addition to this, every Thursday we would have dinner with important leaders from around the country. We also had the privilege to go on field trips to historical landmarks and on a fun weekend away at our president’s mountain home.

Believe it or not, there was work mixed in there as well. We worked Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm. During those times I learned more than I ever thought I would. One of the first things that an internship will teach you is how much time you will someday have to devote to a full time job. This was hard to learn. I hated sitting at a desk for that long. I quickly learned that this is pretty much how most jobs are.

The second thing I learned that, perhaps, is the most important lesson one can ever learn is how to work hard. Our culture is developing a sense of entitlement, forgetting that if you want something, you will have to work for it.  In my case, I wanted respect from my supervisors and to impress them. It doesn’t come easily. My internship lasted 3 months, and by the end of it I was exhausted. On my last day our office had a party; however, I still had a project to finish. Instead of joining the fun, I stayed at my desk and completed my tasks. When I finally got to the party it was almost over, and my boss asked me where I had been. She was impressed when I told her that I had been finishing work. I then found out that the extra stuff she had asked me to do earlier that day was a test to see if I would actually do it or try to get out of it. I had officially earned her respect, something I had been chasing after my entire internship.

Respect and hard work go hand-in-hand. No one owes you respect; you work for it. This was the most valuable experience I had during my time at Leadership Institute. Internships are a great way to learn how the real world works. They will push you and put you to the test but the results are worth it.

A New Beginning - Summer 2012

Internships—they’re all the rage. Many majors require them, many others soon will, and the rest might as well. The idea of leaving Regent’s cozy undergraduate bubble and venturing forth into a new, challenging workplace can be daunting enough without adding the pressure to start establishing your professional career before you’ve even graduated. Yet, that’s where today’s society has us.

We can’t deny that it might be a little scary, but here at Career Services, we can equip you with the right tools and give you the encouragement and confidence that, we hope, will diminish the fear factor. We can aid you in each step of the way, from assisting in researching opportunities and going through the application process, to prepping you for interviews and helping you to do your best once you start your internship.

Here, you will primarily get to hear firsthand from current Regent interns about what it’s really like out there. They will be posting on a variety of subjects, taking us along with them as they delve into God’s purpose for their lives, His lessons for their days, and the challenges that inevitably come to shape us into His children. As they share, I’ll add in relevant articles and other helpful information. If you are thinking about doing an internship in the future, you won't want to miss this! 

Come back soon!