By Christine Xue, 2016 Arlington Chamber of Commerce PRIME Intern
Before starting my internship to the Chamber, I had never worked a day in my life. While this is not completely unheard of among 17-year-olds, I knew that I did not want to miss out on the opportunity to gain valuable early working experience.
Before starting my internship to the Chamber, I had never worked a day in my life. While this is not completely unheard of among 17-year-olds, I knew that I did not want to miss out on the opportunity to gain valuable early working experience.
Of course, I liked that having a job meant being able to call myself a working woman, but it was most important to me to find an opportunity that allowed me to work in an area I would be interested in studying in college. Lucky for me, and other students enrolled in Arlington Public Schools (APS), APS offers a four week internship program called Professional Related Intern/Mentorship Experience (PRIME), through which rising juniors and seniors are matched with local businesses and organizations that are related to the each student’s field of interest. This year, students in the PRIME program were matched with a variety of companies and organizations, from a traveling veterinarian service to an architectural and design firm. As for myself, I got matched with the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, and have enjoyed every second of my time here.
My own experiences at the Chamber have taught me many things. I learned how to use Excel, how to navigate and utilize the database system, and how to take advantage of all types of design software in order to create stunning infographics. While I initially did mostly database work, I was soon given many graphic design projects. Through the design work, I discovered how much I enjoy taking a blank page and turning it into something beautiful.
While many of us begin our internships with little practical experience, we leave with skills and knowledge that we could not have gotten without the exposure inherent in any internship. Aside from developing valuable skills, I gained valuable insight into how a Chamber of Commerce runs, as well as how all types of businesses function and are integrated with one another. Working in the database showed me how diverse many of the industries are that belong to the Chamber community. At first, I was puzzled how such contrasting businesses could all feel that they had something to gain from a membership at the Chamber, but I soon realized how important being a part of this community is in order to thrive. From the small, close-knit community of the Chamber employees to the large community of Arlington itself, it is vital to be connected with those around you.
Interning this summer has proven to be an invaluable experience for me and will continue to benefit me in my future endeavors. I would strongly urge any company to take an intern for even just a couple weeks, as there are many mutual benefits of such an exchange. For one, having interns is a way for companies to get involved with the community and give back to the new generation. Additionally, interns are an extra helping hand in the office, and can often provide refreshing new approaches to old methods. Lastly, by taking on interns, companies are increasing the value of the next generation of employees that they could be hiring in a few years. This small act of opening opportunities to help others creates a ripple effect of good faith that will eventually come full circle back to its origin—and it all starts with you.
My own experiences at the Chamber have taught me many things. I learned how to use Excel, how to navigate and utilize the database system, and how to take advantage of all types of design software in order to create stunning infographics. While I initially did mostly database work, I was soon given many graphic design projects. Through the design work, I discovered how much I enjoy taking a blank page and turning it into something beautiful.
While many of us begin our internships with little practical experience, we leave with skills and knowledge that we could not have gotten without the exposure inherent in any internship. Aside from developing valuable skills, I gained valuable insight into how a Chamber of Commerce runs, as well as how all types of businesses function and are integrated with one another. Working in the database showed me how diverse many of the industries are that belong to the Chamber community. At first, I was puzzled how such contrasting businesses could all feel that they had something to gain from a membership at the Chamber, but I soon realized how important being a part of this community is in order to thrive. From the small, close-knit community of the Chamber employees to the large community of Arlington itself, it is vital to be connected with those around you.
Interning this summer has proven to be an invaluable experience for me and will continue to benefit me in my future endeavors. I would strongly urge any company to take an intern for even just a couple weeks, as there are many mutual benefits of such an exchange. For one, having interns is a way for companies to get involved with the community and give back to the new generation. Additionally, interns are an extra helping hand in the office, and can often provide refreshing new approaches to old methods. Lastly, by taking on interns, companies are increasing the value of the next generation of employees that they could be hiring in a few years. This small act of opening opportunities to help others creates a ripple effect of good faith that will eventually come full circle back to its origin—and it all starts with you.
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