For the past decade, I have spent at least one week per summer at a summer camp in Northern Kentucky. When I got older, I became a member of the staff and spent two summers as a counselor for longer stretches of time. This past summer, I was lucky enough to be a part of the leadership team as the Social Media Intern. It was an entirely different experience from any I’d had at camp, but it was incredibly valuable and one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
My job consisted of creating a schedule for my junior interns to photograph campers during the day while helping run the social media accounts and taking pictures myself. Although I learned countless lessons over the 11 weeks I spent there, I’ve narrowed it down to a list of five key takeaways:
How to frame shots and capture a moment
At the bare minimum, I walked away from this summer with a better understanding of how to use a camera. Not only did my understanding of camera settings grow, but I also learned how to look at a moment, recognize it as a photo opportunity and get to it fast enough. The point of my job was to give the campers something to look back on, as well as assure their parents that their children were enjoying their week away from home and providing photos that could be used for marketing throughout the year. This goal gave me something concrete to work toward and made me a more efficient photographer.
The value of taking opportunities
One of the biggest lessons I learned this summer is that being someone who will accept opportunities makes you invaluable. By saying "yes" to odd jobs around camp, I turned into a reliable coworker and a helpful employee, and I grew my own skill set. Just accepting my main job was an opportunity to expand my skills as a journalist outside the newsroom. The skills I gained as a leader, photographer, social media director and coworker are ones that I will carry with me into the future of my field of study.
Speaking up for yourself
In any job, but particularly internships, it can be easy to slip into the rhythm of doing what you’re told and shying away from presenting ideas. However, proposing ideas and alternative ways of doing things makes you a unique part of a team, as long as it is done in a respectful and timely manner.
Be content with being in the background
On the flip side of the above point, it can also be important to get used to working in the background. A majority of my job was executed behind the scenes, which made me an unidentifiable force on the team, but nevertheless a valuable one. This grants the freedom to be helpful in other ways, and it helps assure the people in charge that your work is being done free of distraction.
Knowing there’s a place for you at the table
Finally, I learned not to doubt myself. I worked hard and was a consistent member of the staff, and it took some mindset adjusting to remember that I had a place at the table. I learned how to work through my anxieties and care for myself while keeping up with my duties and continuing to produce quality work. If you are pursuing an internship or entry-level job, remember you are there for a reason and your capabilities make you a valuable member of a team.
