In college, the summer takes on a whole new meaning. Some people see summer as an opportunity to save up the spending money they’ll need to get them through the next school year. Some people see it as an opportunity to gain valuable work experience and load up that résumé.  Some people see it as an opportunity to catch up on classes and make sure they don’t fall into the Super-Senior plan.  And then, there are those who see it as the opportunity to do all of the above. We won’t go there.

For the last two years it has been pretty easy for me to decide my summer plans. I spent the entire Spring semester of my sophomore year doing an internship.  It was one of the best experiences I’ve had, but it also meant taking a semester off.  I used the next two summers to catch up on classes so that I didn’t have to spend any semester taking 20+ credits (which is possible, but not preferable).  So I spent them here, in a suddenly empty college town, working part time and staying in school mode.

Times have changed.  I have (almost) completed every requirement, earned all the credits, and will be graduating in three weeks. Plus, I just found out last night that I have been accepted into my Top Choice Graduate/Internship program!! It’s so rewarding to know that four years of this college life has taken me where I want to go.

There is only one problem.  While I’ve had the same job on campus for two years, and I’ve continued to work for the company I did the internship with (promoting and recruiting new students each semester), I have no clinical work experience.  Part of my internship next year will be a 16-week clinical rotation, working with a dietitian, and prescribing diets for patients.  I’ve never worked in a hospital. I’ve never worked in a clinic.  I’ve never worked with a Registered Dietitian (RD).

Ehhhh…

So, the only answer was to fix that. While I was home for Spring Break I weighed the options.  It hadn’t occurred to me that I could actually be HOME for the summer, as this hasn’t happened in three years. It was enticing, but also felt like I’d be leaving behind my college life so quickly.  My other options would be to stay here again and work (no!) or live in a nearby city, work, and sublet an apartment (expensive!). The choice was pretty obvious…. 

Our regional hospital has a specific number of spots open for summer interns. They require that you are in a healthcare major, and registered as a full-time student. Check. Check. I filled out an application, and wrote the cover letter stating my career goals and future plans.  You can work in any department, depending on your interests. I want to work with the RD on staff. I don’t know yet what that will actually mean. I’ll probably job-shadow for a few days to get an overall idea of what the job is like; visiting patients, analyzing diets, prescribing diets, working with the food service staff, etc.  Then, I’ll probably move on to smaller projects and odd jobs. I’m SO excited about working in a hospital.  A year ago I thought it was something I would never want to do. I’m not real sure what happened between then and now (lots of learning in class? Hmmm…), but I’m definitely ready to learn more through “hands-on” experience.

Plus, I get to hang out with my family, save money, and have the perfect job to prepare me for next year. All the while, enjoying what will probably be my last summer.  When it’s over, I’ll be headed right back up to the East coast for the next chapter in my life.

Posted by Mary Ellen Nunes at 04/22/2008 02:25:33 PM