Summer is a popular time for students in the School of Human Environmental Sciences to complete their internships. This series will spotlight student interns.
Students: Rachel Boemker & Rob Stromquist
Internship Location: Always Planned Events & Weddings, Lexington
What is your typical day as an intern?
Rachel: I begin the day coming into the office and checking our daily “To Do” list and begin working on the different items included on it. Sometimes I will finish work from the previous day. After everything is complete, I will help Rayna, the owner and lead producer, with anything else in the studio; setting up for design meetings, consulting over design plans, ordering materials, etc. I’ll also clean the warehouse for a little bit each day, mainly organizing our products and making sure our inventory is up to date. Before the day ends, I will help Rayna prepare the next days “To Do” list.
Rob: The week of a wedding the “To Do’ list will typically mean preparing all rentals needed for the wedding, making a timeline for the day of the wedding and contacting all vendors to ensure they will be on-site for the wedding on time.
What is one of the things you learned as a student that you use often as an intern?
Rachel: At my internship I work with computer programs and my classes relating to computer skills have been very beneficial.
Rob: As a student I learned that is important to network. I always make sure to make a good impression with guests and business owners when I am working an event or when I’m at a business meeting. You never know who you might meet that could help you further your career.
What is one piece of advice you would give to students preparing for their internship?
Rachel: My advice would be to make sure you find an internship you enjoy rather than completing an internship to have one finished. It would be a waste of your time and talents to spend months completing an internship that has no merit for you or teaches you nothing.
Rob: One piece of advice would be to make sure your internship pertains to your interests. Internships provide a great way to network and make new connections which can help you find a job after graduation.