Name: Madison Showalter

Major: Family Sciences

Expected Graduation Date: May 2017

Internship Location: Kentucky Department of Education with the Family and Consumer Science State Supervisor in Frankfort, KY

Please describe your typical day as an intern:

My day usually starts by checking in with my supervisor, the State Supervisor, and she will give me a list of objectives to get done for the day. I have been given tasks such as organizing lessons on the state website, assisting with the preparation of and attending an advocacy day for Family and Consumer Sciences in Frankfort, or even spending three days in Louisville at the FCCLA State Meeting assisting my supervisor with various sessions! I have had the opportunity to participate in a lot of great experiences and have learned even more than I imagined about family and consumer sciences at the state level.

How are you using and applying classroom knowledge in your internship?

I have been using the communication skills that I learned in the classroom often during this internship. I have used my knowledge of working with individuals over the different stages of the human lifespan. I understand that meeting and speaking with retired FCS teachers is a different than working with the middle school students at the state meeting, so when communicating with these separate audiences I am able to effectively present my message. I have enjoyed putting my family science coursework into action as I work in this capacity.

What is one key thing you have learned during your internship? 

The key thing I have learned is that there are things you might not feel confident doing, but those are the things you need to do! The more you step out of your comfort zone the more you grow. You might feel uncomfortable at first, but looking back you will be thankful you took the opportunity so you can continue to grow.

If you could share one piece of advice for other students who are preparing to complete an internship, what would it be? 

My advice for others would be to network as much as possible during your internship because all of the professionals you are meeting could lead to a potential career opportunity. The more people you meet and make connections with, the bigger and stronger your network becomes.

Madison Showalter