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Friday, 19 September 2008 |
After I graduate from college there will only be one thing on my mind - finding a job. This will be one of the most important steps in my life and I have to make sure that I can succeed with this demanding task. There are a large amount of graduates from all over the country that are in the same boat as I am. Some how I have to stand out so that my qualifications are the best they can be for the job that I want. Good grades are a big part of this decision, and can take me far, but I will need something else to boost my resume. One of the best ways to become unique and stand out is to get involved. An internship is perfect for this.
An internship is a program that “offers students the chance to apply and further develop their skills and knowledge while gaining practical experience by working in a professional-level organization.” (See the CU Environmental Studies internship site) The University of Colorado takes internships very seriously and the faculty understands how important they are for real world experiences. CU offers a number of internships that range from education, enforcing policies, or just regular data entry work. To find an internship the student must first fill out an interest form and sign an agreement with the internship leader. The internship experience is evaluated by the leader and the student receives credit based on the grade. Actually, it is a very simple process that everyone in the environmental studies program can become involved in. Personally, an internship allows me to find out what I really want to do when I graduate. I gain “real world experience” and find out how things work.
Here at DARCA, I am learning about the numerous ditch and irrigation companies that are around Boulder and how they work. I have become well informed on the ditches that run though Boulder and how they affect the community. Currently, I am putting together a new reservoir recreational lease survey and helping the City of Boulder gain information about an invasive species of zebra mussels. I am also trying to find grants for DARCA, a non-profit organization.
These experiences that I gain here at DARCA will not only boost my resume, but they will also allow me to understand what I really want to do. Finding a job can be one of the most difficult tasks that a person can go though, but I can make it a little bit easier with some background experience.
Devin Perno, DARCA intern, is an Environmental Science major at the University of Colorado. Devin, a Colorado native, is from Littleton.
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