BEVERLY, Mass. - The semester-long internship is one of the essential pieces of Endicott's experiential learning model which includes two 120-hour internships, a semester-long internship, and senior thesis. In essence, it gets undergraduate students career ready with a loaded resume geared towards whatever their postgraduate endeavors may be.
One member of the Class of 2018 for the Gulls cheerleading program - while balancing strength and conditioning programming, captains practices, official team practice, and the start to their 2017-18 campaign - has completed her semester-long internship. Nicole Regan (Medford, Mass.) gave us an insight into her experience working in her desired profession through our new question and answer series.
Nicole Regan
Elementary Education
Semester-Long Internship: St. Joseph School, Wakefield. 1st and 2nd-grade classroom, the supervisor was Lou Ann Melino
Previous Internships:
What inspired you to pursue an internship at this organization or what inspired you to go into the specific industry in which you are working?
As an educational studies major with the intention to get my teaching license, I wanted to intern somewhere that I would get the most hands-on experience. I myself attended a small parochial school from K-8, so it was only natural that my first instinct was to look in the area at local Catholic schools. After visiting a few schools, I decided that St. Josephs was the school for me. I was immediately welcomed and the administration was eager to work with a student teacher. The atmosphere that I experience every day reminds me of my elementary school years and that is something I would not trade for the world.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences on the job and what did you learn?
My most meaningful experience was having the opportunity to teach a classroom of 11 second-graders on my own for six weeks. I thought this was going to be for about one or two weeks while the school searched for a new teacher; however, it took longer than they expected. For those six weeks, I was able to construct and implement my own lesson plans, assess student performance, assign homework, correct all assignments, and communicate with parents on a nightly basis. One of the best feelings in the world is seeing that your students are actually learning what you're teaching, and I learned to never take that feeling for granted. Balancing teaching full time, classes, and cheer was definitely overwhelming and exhausting, but extremely fulfilling and only reassured my desire to teach.
How did your internship help clarify your postgraduate career pursuits?
After experiencing the everyday life of a teacher, I know that I am still eager to become one. Taking control of a classroom was exactly the experience I needed to know that I am in the right field. Post graduation, my plan is to get my masters degree and then search for classroom teacher jobs in the area.
What advice would you give students that are either just starting the internship program at Endicott or students that will be going on semester-long internship?
I would tell them to pace themselves. It is natural to want to put all of your energy into the internship at first to impress your colleagues; however, you will quickly become burnt out if you do that. Plan your time so that once or twice a week after internship you can relax and clear your mind. This helped me to wake up every day and get to the internship on time and be motivated to do my best.
The Endicott Experience feature aims to highlight the entirety of the student-athletes' experiential learning journey throughout their academic careers. The student-athlete at Endicott is afforded the same opportunities as the general student population at the College as it relates to internships, study abroad, and postgraduate career pursuits. This philosophy mirrors the mission statement of the College which every student is encouraged to take intellectual risks, pursue scholarly and creative interests, contribute to the community, and explore diverse career paths. Read more Endicott Experience features by navigating the links below.
INTERNSHIP: Fall 2015 | 2014-15 Internships | Fall 2016 Semester-Long | Gulls "Learn By Doing" On Winter Break | 442 Student-Athletes Complete Internships During 2016-17 Academic Year
STUDY ABROAD: Studying Abroad as a Student-Athlete at Endicott | James Dwyer Focuses on Opportunities Abroad in Switzerland with Les Roches Global Hospitality | Endicott Student-Athletes Study Abroad in Asia | Holly Erbe Studies Abroad in London, Paris, Amsterdam | Andrea Courtemanche Gains New Perspectives Through Study Abroad Trip |
ACADEMICS: Emily Sharpe and Eric Owens Balance STEM and Sport at Endicott | Kendra Walters, Creating Her Own Happiness Through Art at Endicott
CAREER OUTCOMES: Internships Lead To Career Outcomes | 2015 Graduates Find Immediate Success in Job Market
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