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October Internship Spotlight: Breckyn Donate with MG Architects

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Breckyn Donate is a senior completing a for-credit internship in interior design at Muhlenberg Greene (MG) Architects, an architectural design, planning and construction company located in Wyomissing. Under the guidance of MG Architects' Jacob Sockel, Breckyn is currently working to design the set up of a major fundraising event, the Souper Bowl for the Opportunity House, which will be held at Penn State Berks in February. MG Architects is proud to offer internships for both college and high school students, and finds value in the experience: "The internship program has been a huge success for everyone at the firm," said Mr. Sockel. "Breckyn has done an incredible job becoming a part of the design team and providing different perspectives on a variety of different projects. She's been able to gain real-world experience in the field of architecture by assisting on technical drawings, developing industry software skills, and attending project meetings and understanding how crucial a great relationship is with our clients and the firm." He continued, "Having an intern in our design firm provides us with the opportunity to have early-stage career professionals mentor the up-and-coming designers of the future. The exchange of fresh ideas keeps our firm relevant and in touch with the changes in society. Additionally, in this particular experience, our interns are able to assist our nonprofit clients with real-world projects, providing professional services that would otherwise be financially out of reach with the added benefit of giving our interns an actual client experience. In the case of Souper Bowl, everyone wins. The firm gets to support an important cause in our region, and provide learning experiences for our young designers and interns at the same time."

Breckyn, can you tell us a bit about what your plans are for after graduation? Have you selected a college and a major?
After graduation, I plan on attending a four-year university while majoring in Interior Design to complete a BFA. I haven’t decided what school I'll attend yet.

Can you tell us a bit about your internship? What does a typical day look like for you?
On a typical day, I check my email and schedule, then begin working on one of our active projects. I’m currently designing a layout space in ArchiCAD for the Souper Bowl. This is an event held by the Opportunity House, one of MGA’s non-profit connections.

How did you select your internship? Did someone help you select it? Did you seek out the opportunity on your own? Were you asked to do the internship?
Two years ago, I was searching for a design opportunity in our internship program and, sadly, we didn’t have any. Last year, I reached out again to the school's internship coordinator, Mr. Ricketts, and learned about Muhlenberg Greene Architects' intern program.

Do you think your internship is helping you feel more confident about your decision to go to college and pursue your major?
It is! My internship is definitely highlighting all aspects of this career field and ensuring my decision. I’m grateful to be getting this experience for my future in the design world.

What do you like most about your internship?
The environment in the workplace is something I really enjoy. The team is so nice and always willing to help. There is always something to do and something going on.

And finally, what would be your advice to a high school student who's thinking about Exeter's internship program?
I’d advise any student to take advantage of all opportunities they may have. This program is really beneficial for future careers, networking, and can really help determine what you like and don’t. There is such a wide range of businesses and schools that want interns; you never know until you reach out and try.

To see an interview of Breckyn on BCTV, please click HERE.

September Internship Spotlight: Ava Strauss with Jerry Geleff Media

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Ava Strauss is a senior completing a for-credit internship in sports broadcasting with Jerry Geleff Media, a broadcasting and media production company covering high school athletics in Berks County. Mr. Jerry Geleff, owner, says he's thrilled to have Ava's help and believes that businesses benefit when they provide internship opportunities to Exeter's students. "The internship program has been a real win for everybody involved. Ava has done an amazing job for us, providing an angle to our broadcasts on The Exeter Sports Network that we didn't have before with her sideline reporting and other on-air contributions. For Ava, she's getting some real-world experience in the business of sports journalism, broadcast production, and interviewing, and she's getting to hone some "behind the scenes" skills like editing of audio and soundboard operation. I would highly suggest to other businesses to get involved in this program with Exeter because, from my perspective, I've found a gem."

Ava, can you tell us a bit about what your plans are for after graduation? Have you selected a college and a major?
After graduation I plan on attending a 4-year university to study Sports Broadcasting & Journalism. This is all under the “Communications” umbrella. I haven’t decided on a school yet, but I plan on applying soon.

Can you tell us a bit about your internship? What does a typical day look like for you?
My schedule is usually pretty relaxed. My typical work consists of interviewing athletes, editing audio for my podcast and my mentor, and reporting at our football games.

How did you select your internship? Did someone help you select it? Did you seek out the opportunity on your own? Were you asked to do the internship?
I selected this internship because it felt like a great fit. It was first introduced to me by Mr. Ricketts, the internship coordinator at Exeter Township Senior High School. I soon met my mentor before I started (the internship). It was a great connection, especially after meeting with the rest of the team. They have made everything accessible and the communication is great.

Do you think your internship is helping you feel more confident about your decision to go to college and pursue your major?
Yes! I feel very confident that I made a good decision in partaking in this internship. I am very excited and ready to continue my career path in this field.

What do you like most about your internship?
What I like most about my internship is that I get a lot of creativity freedom. All of the podcasts and posts I make are all up to me. Yes, it’s assisted by my mentor, but he lets me do majority of what I want to do to make it my own.

And finally, what would be your advice to a high school student who's thinking about Exeter's internship program?
My advice to a high school student thinking about doing an Exeter internship is to do it! There are so many options and opportunities involved in an internship. It also lets you see if you enjoy being in that specific type of work environment in order to decide if you would like to continue a career path in that field.

Intern Spotlight: Sophie Johnson and the Reading Hospital

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Internship Spotlight: Sophie Johnson, a senior, plans to attend a five-year college to become a physician assistant. She was looking for an internship where she had a great opportunity to become immersed in medicine and applied for a position at the Reading Hospital, which was a new opportunity for Exeter students this year. Courtney Powers, the Director of Community Engagement for the hospital, said that the internship provides experiences that allow students to take what they are learning in the classroom and observe and apply it to real-life situations in a professional healthcare setting. She also said the internship is highly competitive, accepting fewer than half of the students who apply. In addition to traditional medical roles, the hospital also offers internships for students who are interested in human resources, accounting, marketing, HVAC, law and in other non-medical careers. Ms. Powers also said that interns are also given the opportunity to participate in a number of workshops, including financial literacy, resume writing, interviewing skills and more. “Our hospital team members truly love engaging with students and providing these types of experiences for them,” she said. 

Q: Sophie, can you tell us a little bit about what you do at your internship?

A: Upon my arrival, I usually clock in using my badge and then I check in with my department supervisor to find out about my tasks for the day. Depending on whether or not she keeps me on pediatrics or sends me to R2E, which is our special care maternity floor, I complete a range of tasks from checking refrigerator temperatures, stocking supplies, answering call bells and phones, observing in patient rooms and shadowing nurses and doctors. I am currently working on a project of reorganizing our playroom, since it closed in previous years due to COVID-19. 

Q: Why did you select this as your internship?

A: I found out about my internship through my internship coordinator after applying to another medical internship a few days before. After applying to both, I ended up getting accepted into the one I am currently in. It all kind of happened at once because the internship just so happened to be a brand new opportunity for students from Exeter and other schools in the county; I am actually the first and only student from Exeter to participate in my current internship.

Q: Has this internship helped you decide your college/career goals?

A: With working alongside so many medical professionals each day, I have gotten the opportunity to talk to a variety of people, including medical students. I have received so much good advice, and after countless career conversations, I have decided that a physician assistant is the right path for me because it balances patient interaction with medical diagnoses. Being a social person, one of my favorite things is interacting with patients. A physician assistant allows me to have both that social interaction and a higher level of medical knowledge. I am soon getting the opportunity to shadow both a physician assistant and a nurse practitioner to become exposed to the tasks that each job entails. A nurse practitioner was my other career path option, so this is a perfect opportunity for me to solidify my thoughts and decisions. Also, working in pediatrics and special care maternity has helped me to decide that I love working with children as well as babies and their mothers, and that is something that I can see myself doing in the future within my medical profession.

Q: What have you liked most about your internship? What have you liked least?

A: No two days are the same at the hospital, making it part of the reason I love it so much. I am learning something new every single day. My favorite part of the internship is definitely meeting all of the different patients and shadowing the nurses and doctors during patient assessments and treatments. I have even gotten to hold babies, which has definitely been a favorite thing of mine. Everything I have done at the hospital has benefited me in some way, so I really can't think of anything that has been my "least favorite." Sure there are less exciting things such as answering phones and stocking supplies but those tasks have allowed me to gain better communication and organizational skills in which I value. I have also met so many nice people who treat me as one of their own. 

Q: Has anything surprised you about your internship? 

A: Yes, I would say the biggest surprise that came from this internship was the amount of opportunities I was presented with. Going in, I knew I was going to have opportunities, but definitely not this many. It honestly blows my mind how much I am able to do. I am doing things that I never imagined I would do at this age.

Q: Anything else you'd like to share?

A: I would like to note that I got very lucky in the aspect that my department manager happens to manage both the pediatrics and the special care maternity units. With that being said, I go back and forth between departments frequently and both teach me completely different things. So in a way, I am learning double because I have double the amount of opportunities through this advantage. 

Our deepest thanks to the Reading Hospital for offering this great opportunity to Exeter and other Berks students and for Ms. Powers and Sophie for sharing her great experience this semester! To learn more about hosting an Exeter intern or signing up for an internship in the 2023-24 school year, please reach out to Mr. Mark Ricketts at maricketts@nullexetersd.org.

Intern Spotlight: Taylor Hill and Anni B Monogramming

Internship Spotlight: Taylor Hill, a junior, plans to attend a four-year college for business following graduation and hoped to intern at a business where she could learn all the different aspects of running a small business, including marketing and finances. She was lucky to find a perfect match with Anni B Monogramming, a small business owned and operated by Antje Barrett Scantzos in Wyomissing.

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about what you do at your internship?

A: I help with preparing the product for customers by adding finishing touches. I iron, fold, and package, as well as add price tags to products that she uses for shows. I also spend time creating spreadsheets and sign-ups for shows. I also have helped with taking pictures, creating captions, and posting on the Facebook and Instagram business platforms. In addition, I enter information into QuickBooks and help with making deposits. 

Q: Why did you select this business as your internship?

A:I selected my internship because the creative business had a good atmosphere and my mentor told me I would be doing different things every day. 

Q: Has this internship helped you decide your college/career goals?

A: My internship has shown me a lot about the communication it takes to work in a small business. I have learned about the importance of building relationships with each client in a business of personalization (embroidering). While I don't plan to have my own small business, the skills will make me a stronger future employee. 

Q: What have you liked most about your internship? What have you liked least?

A: I have liked entering the information into QuickBooks and using problem-solving to detect the issue if totals don't add up. I can't think of a task I haven't enjoyed in some way. 

Q: Has anything surprised you about your internship? 

A: I have been surprised about the variety of different customers she receives. My mentor receives orders from anything from sports teams, to doctors’ offices, to prison guards, to grandmothers and moms looking for cute gifts. 

Q: Anything else you'd like to share?

A: The skills I have been taught and learned through observation have helped me learn so much more about the time that gets put into a business.

We’re so grateful to Antje for agreeing to mentoring Exeter students and Taylor for sharing her great experience this semester! To learn more about hosting an Exeter intern or signing up for an internship in the 2023-24 school year, please reach out to Mr. Mark Ricketts at maricketts@nullexetersd.org. 

 

Intern Spotlight: Reagan Ginsberg and Western Berks Ambulance Association

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Reagan Ginsberg is completing a for-credit internship with the Western Berks Ambulance Association. Her profile was written by Avery Burke, a communications intern for the Exeter Township School District.

Reagan Ginsberg is a senior at Exeter Township Senior High School and is the leader of Exeter Mini-THON. Outside of school she is enlisted as a member of the Army Reserves. Reagan is interning at the Western Berks Ambulance Association. 

Q: Why did you choose your internship program?

A: I chose this internship because I will be trained as a Combat Medic this summer with the Army, so this internship is allowing me to become accustomed to medical terminology and build lasting connections in the field.

Q:  What are some of the major projects you have worked on so far?

A:  I am an observer on the truck while they respond to advanced life support (ALS) calls and sometimes basic life support (BLS) calls. ALS calls are for paramedics when people need advanced skills to handle them: think traumas, cardiac arrests, or serious allergic reactions. BLS calls are for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), and this is when the patient is stable and just needs a ride to the hospital. Along with observing, I start flushes, attach leads or blood pressure cuffs, and really anything that my mentor is comfortable with me doing. I have seen patients of many age groups, socioeconomic backgrounds, races, and genders.

Q: What have you learned so far during your internship?

A: Seeing the trauma patients allowed me some confidence with going into the military. Because of my internship, I know I can handle the sight of blood, needles, and open wounds.

Q: What has been your favorite and most challenging part of this internship?

A:  My favorite part of this internship is expanding my own knowledge about our surrounding communities. I am also very glad that I had the opportunity to surround myself with intense situations that the typical high schooler may not witness. A challenge at this internship was the hours. Many are unaware of how hard our EMTs and paramedics work for us. The minimum length of a shift is 12 hours, with many going until 18 hours. I have completed two 12 hour shifts, one being overnight, and it was certainly a challenge to adjust to. 

Q: What career do you hope to have one day? Is this something you have always seen yourself doing? 

A:  When I get out of the military, this is absolutely something I could see myself doing. I thoroughly enjoy every shift I am able to complete and look very much forward to it as a future career. Ultimately, I would like to be an emergency medicine physician for the military, but this internship, and potential career, is a significant stepping stone on my way to that career.

Intern Spotlight: Avery Burke and the ETSD

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Avery Burke is a senior at Exeter Township Senior High School and is on the girls' tennis team. She is also a part of the Stage Crew and runs the sound for the plays and musicals. Avery is interning at the ETSD Administration Building in the Communications Department. 

Q: Why did you choose your internship program?

A: I chose this internship because I have always gone back and forth between what I would like to do in my future. During all my college searching, applying, and visits I heard about degrees in both Communications and Public Relations. This sparked my interest because I love interacting with people, writing stories, and possibly going to new places. So when I heard about this internship opportunity I was very excited to get an idea of what a career in this field might look like. 

Q: What are some of the major projects you have worked on so far?

A: So far in my internship I have gotten the opportunity to work on many different projects. I worked on updating and expanding the community service opportunities for students, writing up interviews for various staff and students in Exeter, and getting to take pictures of some of the amazing events at all the Exeter schools.  

Q: What have you learned so far during your internship?

A: I have learned so much valuable information about this career path that will definitely help me in my future. One of the most important things I think that I have learned was how to find a story, contact the person or people it is about, and then how to go about creating an interesting story with pictures that most people will enjoy. I have also learned how to manage and create a website, as well as how to professionally manage and create posts for various social media sites. 

Q: What has been your favorite and most challenging part of this internship?

A: I think that my favorite part of this internship is getting out and interacting with staff and students from all the schools. I also love writing up stories and interviews about different events and people in the district.

Q: What career do you hope to have one day? Is this something you have always seen yourself doing? 

A: One day I hope to be working for an international company, writing and creating stories and social media posts, and hopefully traveling…a lot! This is not something that I have always seen myself doing, however traveling and writing is something that I have always wanted to do.  

Q: How will this internship help you in the future?

A: I hope this internship will open many doors for me in both college and my future classes. I hope that this internship might give me a leg up on some of my other classmates and coworkers because I already know a lot of valuable information. 

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?

A: If you are thinking about doing the internship program, then do it! It is such a great opportunity for students to get a feel for what their future career might be like. If you are interested but not sure where you would like to intern, do not let that stop you. Mr. Ricketts has many connections and I am sure if you reach out to him you will find something that piques your interest!