Friday, 27 Sep 2002

ST. PAUL, Minn.

Yesterday was a very busy day for me. I had four presentations and talked with about 80 students. I get very excited when I give these presentations because I can sense interest and excitement in the crowd as well. Yesterday, I’d say about 20 of those students were interested enough to follow up on the possibility of an SCA internship.

I always say 20 is better than none; you can’t expect everyone to jump on the bandwagon. There are always those students for whom our program just won’t work out. Some have a serious boy- or girlfriend, some don’t want to leave their hometown. I always tell this latter group that I was as nervous as anyone when I left to do my first internship. But you make so many new friends that the loneliness doesn’t last long. By the end of the program, the members of my group were more than close friends; we were like family.

In fact, now that I’m on my own at the U. of M., I find that I expect to come home at the end of the day and hang out with all my friends from the Adirondacks. Now I really am somewhat lonely. I am a people-person, so this job can be hard on me. But I know if I help one person get an internship it will be worth it; I know that they will have a great time, grow, and spread the word to friends and family. And sometimes that is the best way to help a program grow.