Experience That Can't Be Learned in the Classroom

After interning with a charitable organization, one student expressed that what she learned through the agency could never be learned in a classroom.

A favorite part of the internship for the student was having an opportunity to be make a difference by working with the women and children that the agency served. Due to the small size of the office, the student was able to see the whole process of what the agency does and how it services clients from start to finish. Throughout the volunteer experience she had a sense that she was at the forefront of the action and that she contributed to the success of the agency during her short time working for the organization.

Prior to volunteering, the student had taken several business classes which prepared her for her role in the organization. While volunteering, she learned that she very much enjoyed the work of nonprofits and that this is an area she would like to pursue after college. Best of all, the student feels confident that her internship experience will give her a leg up on the competition and feels that it has proven to be an invaluable experience for her in her future career planning.

If you have not yet snagged an internship for the summer and are hesitant to apply for nonpaid or volunteer positions, I suggest that you reconsider. Some of the best internships are unpaid and volunteering offers a way to feel good about what you are doing. In addition, as a student you can always do a job on the side to subsidize your summer or to put away for fall semester.