Wednesday, September 9, 2009

How I Got the Internship

Early in the summer I started thinking about doing a teaching internship, this one because I really want to be a professor when I finish my MFA in SCAD. Since I am back in Puerto Rico where I was born and studied my bachelor’s degree in architecture I decided to call my former school to see if I could do my teaching internship there [maybe they were to be excited to see one of their alumni would soon to be a professor], but to my surprise they never give me a call back and I waited too long for them to answer the second call.

Some weeks passed by and one day, on my way to do a research in the library of the University of the state (University of Puerto Rico) it crossed my mind why not, just stop by the architecture school before going to the library and ask to talk to the dean [wish I did not know, off course], so I did it. On my way in to the department office I found a former history professor from my old school and [to tell a long story short] ask him to introduce me to the dean because I wanted to talk him into a deal. I was introduced, and soon I ask him if he could let me do a teaching internship for my Architectural History degree. I told him that they didn’t have to pay me now, but if they like what I do during the internship I will love to lead a history class in the department. He said ok, "just talk to Prof. Jorge Lizardi and ask him if he wanted to have an intern."

I started 3 weeks ago, and so far it’s been interesting. Specially because they started reviewing their history curriculum last semester and they are open to suggestion and changes, and I am going to have the opportunity to be a part of that.

Claudia

1 comment:

  1. Claudia,
    Your experience is a nice demonstration of the benefits of not being deterred by an initial setback and of the way opportunities can arise in unexpected ways.
    I'd like to hear more about your participation in their discussions about their curriculum and, more specifically, about your teaching experiences.
    RW

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