Questions:
- What are your goals for your internship this year? Provide two and explain each.
- What characteristics do you think a successful intern should have? Review a couple and be specific.
My goal for my science internship with year is to learn as much as possible about my topic through real, current studies that are going on. I really enjoy science class, but I cannot wait to apply what I've learned to real testing and then learn more through the hands on experiments. Although my specific internship has not yet been decided, I'm sure it will be a great experience. Another goal on mine is to be able to learn about the scientific process and research that goes on while conducting experiments and tests. Doing lab reports in school is one type of process, but I think it will be interesting to see how professional scientists work and organize themselves. I look forward to seeing all of their pre-testing research, the types of goals they have, how far they have gotten, and other types of progress that has taken place already.
There are many things that can be done to be a successful intern. I think some of the most important things are organizations, following directions carefully, and always being prepared. Organization is important because we must be able to know where things are so we can access them quickly instead of searching around in a folder for 5 minutes. It is also important because then if we have to look back on notes we've taken or research we've done, we can understand the context and exactly what we had meant in our notes. Organization also means good presentation. Conducting ourselves in a professional manor is very important. Following directions is also a key element in being a successful intern. Although it seems like a small task, it is very crucial. If our mentor tells us to make a precise measurement, add a specific amount of a chemical, or use an instrument a certain way, it is important that we can follow exactly what must be done because if we don't, it could ruin to experiment. As interns, we are there to be serious, effective workers that help our mentor, not slow them down. Following directions is a simple way of aiding our mentor. Lastly, being prepared is also a relatively easy task that can makes things much easier. If we are asked to bring a certain thing or research a certain topic, it is important that we have the things we need in order to effectively work. It is also important that we prepare ourselves in that if we don't understand certain terminology or a certain idea, we must take initiative and do our own research to understand it. Asking questions is fine, but we should be expected to do our share of the work and make sure we understand what is happening.
I am excited to work as an intern and learning new information, learning many new skills, and being able to be a part of the scientific community as we learn and discover new theories.
