1. Describe two (2) criteria you are (were) looking for in your
internship site and what made you select the Internship that you did?
When looking for an internship site I wanted something that would help me with my communication skills, and have experience in a classroom setting. I wanted something that would enhance my communication skills because as a hygienist it is important for us to be able to effectively teach our patients how to properly brush and floss, and to be in an environment where I would be able to constantly teach others would benefit me that way. I also wanted an internship that would give me experience in a classroom setting. I wanted this experience because I am interested in being an educator one day so to have this experience now is great for my future. I ultimately chose this internship experience because I am interested in education and can see myself being an educator one day, and I also wanted to see what being a professor was like.
2. Did you experience both personal and professional growth with your internship?
Did you experience Interprofessional activities on site Please explain:
I did experience both personal and professional growth during this experience. I gained personal growth because everyday during internship students would ask me somewhat difficult questions and sometimes I would have to tell them what they would not want to hear, and that is always something I have struggled with, so to gain experience in my internship has helped me personally with that. I grew as a professional because I was able to experience such a different environment every day and it has helped me be a better hygienist because I have experience teaching as well as effectively communicating with a wide range of people, it will definitely help me in my career. My internship helped grow me personally and professionally. One interprofessional activity I experienced was when Kara from GC America came into lecture and lab to teach the students how to place a glass ionomer sealant. My mentor and I both worked with her during lecture and lab. Besides working with Kara, I don’t believe I experienced any other interprofessional activities. My internship was mainly just my mentor, Dr. Boyce and myself, as well as the students.
3. Internships are a give and take situation, please explain:
What did you give?
What did you receive?
Some things that I gave to my internship experience was time, hard work, and dedication. I always made sure I was at every lecture and lab and I worked hard to make sure the lab was always set up correctly for the students and helped make sure the lectures always run smoothly. I always worked hard with my professor. It is hard work to make sure to get all the grades in the gradebook and make sure every student was accounted for during lab time and gets a grade for what they have done for the day. Lastly, I was very dedicated to my internship. I wanted to be involved as I could possibly be and make myself a good resource for the students.
What I have received from this internship is an experience that I could never get again. It showed me the ins and outs of being a professor, and I would not have learned this much if I had not done this internship. From my internship I can take away so many rewarding experiences that will make me a better dental hygienist in an education position. I also take away so much knowledge about being a professor in a dental hygiene course.
4. Describe an experience you had during your internship that you did not
expect to have, please explain:
During my internship one experience I did not expect to have was the amount of tougher questions students would ask me. I had just expected the students to not have that kind of trust for me and ask me questions that were sometimes difficult to answer, such as grading and why certain assignments were graded the way they were. I also had just assumed they would not ask me questions they would always ask Professor Miklos, but I was wrong. Also, not giving a student any credit for something is an experience I for some reason thought I would not have experienced. It was hard to not give someone full points for a lab exercise or a reference card because it was not done properly or a step in the lab procedure was missed.
5. If you could describe your internship in one word, what would that word
be? Explain why you chose that word.
When thinking about words to describe my internship, many come to my mind. But one word that sticks out a bit would be challenging. My internship was challenging because it pushed me outside my comfort zone. I am typically a quite person, but with this experience I gained confidence to teach others and help them be successful. I feel as if in the setting I have been in I am breaking through my shell of quietness and starting to become more involved in a sense of communicating with students and my mentor. I can see a change from the first week to the most recent week of internship and I believe I will continue to grow.
6. Describe one of your personal characteristics that had an
impact on your internship and the people you interned with.
One of my personal characteristics that had an impact on my internship and the people I interned with would be patience. I believe my patience played a big role in my internship because when teaching I learned it is a characteristic you must have. When you are teaching students something new, some students may understand and grasp the material better than others. I showed my patience when assisting in lecture and lab. I also was very understanding to the students and my mentor. During this experience I wanted to be a great help and I feel as if I have done a good job at that.
Alyssa Lewandowski's Internship Blog 