For the most part, I expected to have networking opportunities at my internship. These expectations have not changed due to the opportunities that are still up and coming. I am looking forward to building more connections and getting out of my comfort zone. 

My internship with the center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage has been eye-opening in the sense that I am surprised about the professional opportunities that are being offered. For instance, my supervisor offered an opportunity for me and my fellow intern to make a submission to an Open Access academic journal that discusses the work we are currently doing for the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. It is called the Journal of Folklife and Education. This publication wants submissions that “amplify and demonstrate the power and the promise of multi-modal storytelling to educate. ” The request for submissions more specifically aligned with my role at  the center to create educational resources. The Journal was more specifically calling for submissions that “present case studies, programs, lesson plans, teaching modules, and research on media, tradition and arts that are based on community cultural life. “ In my submission, I would have to discuss the Prototype learning modules I created using canva to serve as a template for the Center’s future endeavors to create more educational resources. I would have to explain that my prototype aligns with the Center’s mission statement to become more of an educational tool for teachers and patrons alike. I would also need to discuss the research and logic I used to create my prototype. Fortunately, I have a whole Microsoft document dedicated to that information due to my original project planning process. I have also been surprised by the kinds of people I have come across with my networking opportunities. At the end of last month, I was invited to the Center’s open house. I met many interesting individuals who were already retired so I wasn’t sure how I could build relationships with people who already were “out the door.” I wish I was able to speak to more people about what I was doing for my intern assignment but the open house was more of a social event for those that were currently employed at the center.. It also served as a way to celebrate the retirement of two colleagues. As a result I felt a bit out of place at the event.. But I survived it nevertheless and had an opportunity to make connections with people I would not have met otherwise. Another unexpected surprise was that I attended a networking event hosted by the Smithsonian OAAI enrichment events and programs.While I was there I met a lot of PhD candidates. I was surprised by this as I was expecting to meet more people like me. I am someone trying to earn a graduate certificate not a PhD. I was also the only person who seemed to have a full-time job who was working at an internship part-time. At this event I also met individuals who were working as fellows. It made me really consider and question the types of things one would need to do in order to become a fellow or a PhD candidate.