Charles River Watershed Association: The Value of an Internship

Friday, December 14, 2012

The Value of an Internship

My time here at CRWA is drawing to a close. Reflecting over all the things I’ve been a part of here and the time I’ve spent, I can safely say I am happy to have been an intern, even if I’m unpaid. Let me tell you why.

I graduated in May 2012 with a B.A. in environmental science, and since then I have been applying to jobs all over the country in this field. Having just left college, I obviously have no prior experience. Therein lies the catch 22. Everybody wants experience. Even entry-level openings want some experience… Wait, what? How can I get experience if nobody wants to hire me because of my lack of experience? The answer, my friends, is through an internship, like the one I have had here at CRWA.

Yes, I was unpaid. But I learned things and got the hands-on experience that everybody wants to see in a job candidate. I have been given amazing opportunities to get involved, like going out onto the Charles River to collect samples, working with Earthwatch, Inc., and teaching Girl Scouts about water cleanliness. And I got to do all this while working with the great staff of CRWA. Moreover, showing the initiative to work and learn at your own expense shows future employers you have a rare passion for your chosen career path. It’s not only a great learning opportunity, but it says a lot about your character that might otherwise go unsaid.

So, I guess what I’m trying to say is, don’t underestimate the power of an internship. I have learned so much during my time here at CRWA as an intern that I could not have learned otherwise. It was all worthwhile, and I had a fun time too. I am so thankful to CRWA for taking me on, with such enthusiasm and support, and I will miss being a member of this team! If any of you out there are considering an internship here, or even elsewhere, go for it. It’s a truly rewarding experience in so many different ways.

And with that, I bid you adieu. Good luck to the future interns, and have fun!

Meghan

…Seriously though, go apply for an internship! You know you want to!!

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Welcome to the Charles River Watershed Association's Intern Blog

CRWA's mission is to use science, advocacy and the law to protect, preserve and enhance the Charles River and its watershed.

One of the country's oldest watershed organizations, Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) was formed in 1965 in response to public concern about the declining condition of the Charles. Since its earliest days of advocacy, CRWA has figured prominently in major clean-up and watershed protection efforts, working with government officials and citizen groups from 35 Massachusetts watershed towns from Hopkinton to Boston. Initiatives over the last four decades have dramatically improved the quality of water in the watershed and fundamentally changed approaches to water resource management.

While CRWA’s mission focuses on the Charles River, the implications and applicability of our science-based work go far beyond the watershed’s boundaries. Much of CRWA’s work is cutting edge and therein lies our unique strength and effectiveness: we use our scientific knowledge of the Charles to develop innovative, workable solutions to watershed problems. This knowledge allows CRWA not only to advocate persuasively for outcomes, but also to partner with government agencies and other environmental groups to protect the natural environment and to promote sustainable ecosystem policies and practices.