CAPS is a way into something, not out of something. CAPS is a way to investigate an idea or a passion in more detail. What positives do you see coming from this experience?
My interest in the CAPS Internship stems from my great desire for independence and self-determination in my studies. As a student at Newton North, one is given more freedom each year, but the only true independent study lies in the CAPS program. I believe that participating in CAPS will make it necessary for me to take on more responsibility as a student, researcher, and active member of the Newton North community. I want to be in charge of a project that is original, inspiring, and beneficial to my personal studies as well as those of my peers.
Describe your proposed internship. Where will you be interning? If you don't have an internship lined up, what type of internship are you looking into and most importantly, what have done to initiate the process of securing an internship? (Be as specific as possible.)
While I have been having difficulties lining up my internship, I have a clear vision for what I hope to accomplish as a CAPS intern. I am pursuing an internship at the Massachusetts Historical Society, and while I do not have a guaranteed internship at this location, I am looking to obtain a backup internship at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. I have spent significant time emailing and calling the Mass. Historical Society, and I have just been getting through in the past week. Hopefully, I will be going in for an interview within the coming weeks. For my second choice at the Harvard Museum of Natural History, I have been corresponding via email with a representative about designing a specific volunteer opportunity, should my first option fall through. Currently, it appears that I will have obtained an internship at either organization within the next two to three weeks. My internship goals are to work within an actual historical organization, to experience the impact that historical organizations have presently, and to conduct a realistic but small research project based on the resources that I am surrounded with at the historical organization at which I will be an intern.
Describe how you will efficiently use your time, knowing that there's the official internship hours to satisfy, a web portfolio to work on/build, and a presentation to prepare for. (CAPS internship students are required to participate in a minimum of 25 hours/week.)
I will spend most of my 25 hours/week as a librarian or tour guide, assisting visitors with research and learning about the different services that historical organizations provide every day. After learning about the standards and expectations that exist in academia, I will spend some time working on an independent research project with primary and secondary sources (the topic of this project has yet to be determined). When I am not actively interning, I will be keeping track of my experiences and research progress on a public blog and writing the research thesis paper that I hope to complete.
What makes you excited about this internship?
I am excited about this internship because it mirrors what I want to do for a living. Often, I worry that people don’t see being a historian or historical researcher as a viable career option because it isn’t clear what the profession entails. Being able to experience firsthand the inner workings of academia and historical research would give me insight into what I want to do with the subject of history. It would be a unique opportunity to do research that I might not be able to do again until graduate school.
What are your concerns? (Fulfilling hours? Professional/formal communication? Maintaining a website? Presentation skills? Transportation? Scheduling issues?)
My main concern with the CAPS internship that I have created for myself is studying for my Chemistry, Euro, and English AP tests, because I am still planning on taking them. I also am in Jubilee Singers, so most mornings would have to be spent at Newton North. Fortunately, my block schedule works out so that I could be at school until around 10:00 or 11:00, leaving the rest of the day for my internship. I’m also worried that the research project in addition to the internship is ambitious, but I’m confident that I will have time to put together at least a small thesis paper on a subject of my choice. I am also a bit nervous when it comes to public speaking, but hopefully preparedness will make up for this.
What commitments do you have during the 2nd semester? (Please be specific. Include plans for travel (personal or school sponsored trips/exchanges), sports, theatre, musical groups, etc.)
With the CAPS project in mind, I left myself with few extra curriculars planned for second semester. I have two jobs that mostly occupy my time on weekends, and I maintain these jobs with regular schoolwork, so it shouldn’t be a problem. I’m a participant in Marathon Club at school, but I have been training on my own while I’ve been directing a play this fall and only attending Saturday morning practices, so I don’t think it will be a problem with the internship.
What classes do you anticipate keeping during your CAPS Internship in addition to English? (CAPS Internship students are required to keep all GRADUATION REQUIREMENT classes. (This includes your English course.)
I plan on keeping my A, B, C, and D block classes in addition to my CAPS project. This includes my mandatory P.E. class, AP European History, Jubilee Singers, and AP English Literature.
Please describe any experience(s) you've had that have helped prepare you for this. (List work and/or volunteer experience. Describe any background or prior knowledge you have with this topic. Or explain why you are interested in this completely new topic.)
I don’t have experience working in historical research facilities, but writing my junior thesis last year and doing independent research have convinced me that history is my passion. Working with primary sources was most enjoyable from this experience, and I have been hoping to work more closely with firsthand resources as opposed to doing internet research. I have also visited the Harvard Museum of Natural History and the Massachusetts Historical Society multiple times, and I have found that both places are pleasant working environments. My work experience is mostly in the food industry and as a camp counselor, but both of these jobs have taught me a lot about communication, responsibility, and creativity, and all of these skills will surely be required of me if I am accepted for a CAPS internship.
My interest in the CAPS Internship stems from my great desire for independence and self-determination in my studies. As a student at Newton North, one is given more freedom each year, but the only true independent study lies in the CAPS program. I believe that participating in CAPS will make it necessary for me to take on more responsibility as a student, researcher, and active member of the Newton North community. I want to be in charge of a project that is original, inspiring, and beneficial to my personal studies as well as those of my peers.
Describe your proposed internship. Where will you be interning? If you don't have an internship lined up, what type of internship are you looking into and most importantly, what have done to initiate the process of securing an internship? (Be as specific as possible.)
While I have been having difficulties lining up my internship, I have a clear vision for what I hope to accomplish as a CAPS intern. I am pursuing an internship at the Massachusetts Historical Society, and while I do not have a guaranteed internship at this location, I am looking to obtain a backup internship at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. I have spent significant time emailing and calling the Mass. Historical Society, and I have just been getting through in the past week. Hopefully, I will be going in for an interview within the coming weeks. For my second choice at the Harvard Museum of Natural History, I have been corresponding via email with a representative about designing a specific volunteer opportunity, should my first option fall through. Currently, it appears that I will have obtained an internship at either organization within the next two to three weeks. My internship goals are to work within an actual historical organization, to experience the impact that historical organizations have presently, and to conduct a realistic but small research project based on the resources that I am surrounded with at the historical organization at which I will be an intern.
Describe how you will efficiently use your time, knowing that there's the official internship hours to satisfy, a web portfolio to work on/build, and a presentation to prepare for. (CAPS internship students are required to participate in a minimum of 25 hours/week.)
I will spend most of my 25 hours/week as a librarian or tour guide, assisting visitors with research and learning about the different services that historical organizations provide every day. After learning about the standards and expectations that exist in academia, I will spend some time working on an independent research project with primary and secondary sources (the topic of this project has yet to be determined). When I am not actively interning, I will be keeping track of my experiences and research progress on a public blog and writing the research thesis paper that I hope to complete.
What makes you excited about this internship?
I am excited about this internship because it mirrors what I want to do for a living. Often, I worry that people don’t see being a historian or historical researcher as a viable career option because it isn’t clear what the profession entails. Being able to experience firsthand the inner workings of academia and historical research would give me insight into what I want to do with the subject of history. It would be a unique opportunity to do research that I might not be able to do again until graduate school.
What are your concerns? (Fulfilling hours? Professional/formal communication? Maintaining a website? Presentation skills? Transportation? Scheduling issues?)
My main concern with the CAPS internship that I have created for myself is studying for my Chemistry, Euro, and English AP tests, because I am still planning on taking them. I also am in Jubilee Singers, so most mornings would have to be spent at Newton North. Fortunately, my block schedule works out so that I could be at school until around 10:00 or 11:00, leaving the rest of the day for my internship. I’m also worried that the research project in addition to the internship is ambitious, but I’m confident that I will have time to put together at least a small thesis paper on a subject of my choice. I am also a bit nervous when it comes to public speaking, but hopefully preparedness will make up for this.
What commitments do you have during the 2nd semester? (Please be specific. Include plans for travel (personal or school sponsored trips/exchanges), sports, theatre, musical groups, etc.)
With the CAPS project in mind, I left myself with few extra curriculars planned for second semester. I have two jobs that mostly occupy my time on weekends, and I maintain these jobs with regular schoolwork, so it shouldn’t be a problem. I’m a participant in Marathon Club at school, but I have been training on my own while I’ve been directing a play this fall and only attending Saturday morning practices, so I don’t think it will be a problem with the internship.
What classes do you anticipate keeping during your CAPS Internship in addition to English? (CAPS Internship students are required to keep all GRADUATION REQUIREMENT classes. (This includes your English course.)
I plan on keeping my A, B, C, and D block classes in addition to my CAPS project. This includes my mandatory P.E. class, AP European History, Jubilee Singers, and AP English Literature.
Please describe any experience(s) you've had that have helped prepare you for this. (List work and/or volunteer experience. Describe any background or prior knowledge you have with this topic. Or explain why you are interested in this completely new topic.)
I don’t have experience working in historical research facilities, but writing my junior thesis last year and doing independent research have convinced me that history is my passion. Working with primary sources was most enjoyable from this experience, and I have been hoping to work more closely with firsthand resources as opposed to doing internet research. I have also visited the Harvard Museum of Natural History and the Massachusetts Historical Society multiple times, and I have found that both places are pleasant working environments. My work experience is mostly in the food industry and as a camp counselor, but both of these jobs have taught me a lot about communication, responsibility, and creativity, and all of these skills will surely be required of me if I am accepted for a CAPS internship.