Interns Speak Out

I could not have chosen a better internship to prepare me for student teaching and my future career. I learned important teaching methods – pacing, flexibility, behavioral management, creativity, and tone. I learned how to cooperate and problem-solve with other team members under stress.

My wonderful team members helped me learn interpersonal skills as well as help me grow spiritually. The enormous responsibilities placed on me taught me the value of preparedness and flexibility.

Looking at behavioral issues and how to respond to them has helped me as a Children’s and Family Ministry major, but [this internship] also gave me a love and passion for the performing arts, and a desire to continue in some way. It has challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone, to grow in my walk with Christ, and discipline myself to manage my time, talents, and habits to serve others.

The relationships formed with teammates and the kids definitely made an impact on my life. … I think the kids taught me a lot more than I was expecting. Their interactions with one another, behaviors and personalities gave glimpses into what they may experience at home or at school. It helped me in learning how to appropriately deal with situations that may arise, and how to find a balance between discipline and love.

Being able to teach theatre … pause … and have a teachable moment with kids as we related the material to the Bible definitely helped me as a theatre ministry major. I learned how to step back and look at the big picture, instead of worrying about small, unimportant things. I also grew in learning how to love on kids and being able to meet them where they are in their lives.

Coming into this internship I knew that I’d learn how to manage a large group of children, teach efficiently, and think creatively on my feet. What I didn’t know was that I’d learn how to adjust to a team situation where every person contributes different abilities and talents to the success of the group.

From a theatre point of view, one of the most powerful things about this internship is the challenge of putting on a show every week. It teaches you how to keep your eyes on the goal while still engaging children in the moment. [It has] helped me learn a lot about working under pressure. It also gave me practical training in working in numerous environments, and adapting lighting to different venues.

From a teaching point of view, the most powerful thing about this internship is the countless teaching opportunities it gives you in a variety of environments and situations. I had very little teaching experience or training before this internship and I think that through immersion I learned so much more in a shorter amount of time then if I had taken classes. Also, I think it is a lot easier to learn about teaching and teaching techniques if you already have some experience to draw upon.

I have been able to use the theatre games, teaching methods, and leadership techniques as a Teaching Fellow for Beginning Acting at Birmingham-Southern College. Because this internship gives you a taste of so many aspects of theatre and ministry production it is perfect for people seeking unique ways to utilize their arts interests (beyond the common goal of performing on Broadway!). This internship fits well with my liberal arts education because it explores how a field of study –like theatre, dance, photography, or music — can be used in conjunction with other disciplines (like religion, computer science, and leadership) to serve a community.