so far, so good

so, today is day 5 of the internship. let me bring you up to speed.

first, the important things: i have my own desk, computer, bulletin board, e-mail address, and PHONE EXTENSION! (even though i'm just a summer intern, everyone's being really great and making the effort to treat me like any other full-time staff person. and i'm not just copying documents and getting people coffee... i'm already WRITING and DESIGNING, putting those classroom skills to use!)

over the course of the past few days, i've sat in on probably 10 hours of staff and department meetings (way more than i thought i'd be sitting in on). these meetings can get long... and ok, a little boring. but to be completely honest (at the risk of sounding like a complete nerd) i like them. it's fascinating to see all that goes on "behind the scenes." when i applied for this job, i knew that it would provide me with more experience and insight. i figured it would also allow me a greater appreciation for the communications department at my church. but after just a few days interning there, i've discovered that without the communications department, pretty much nothing would happen. it's the communications department that designs, words, prints, and distributes all the fliers, inserts, signs, church bulletins, newsletters, and ministry materials. it's the communications department's job to keep the congregation, staff, and public informed. it's the communications department's job to promote and get people excited about events and ministries. without it, the church would fall apart. i knew it was important before, but i'd never fully realized HOW important.

that being said, the meetings have been interesting and beneficial... but i've gotten the most out of the projects i've been given. my main job this summer is working on the "ministry focus," my church's newsletter. i've gotten to know InDesign and Photoshop quite well these past couple days. :) my favorite part about working on the focus is picking which graphics i want to use each week. efree has subscribed to clipart.com, so i have access to like 6 million graphics. a-mazing. i worked alongside my boss this week, but as the weeks go on, i'll work more and more by myself.

i've also been given lots of random smaller projects like updating materials (making the necessary changes, printing, cutting, and distributing). yesterday, i used InDesign to design a flier for an event. today i used it to design and update the new "prayer focus" card. i've learned how everything around the office works now (i.e. the giant printers, copiers, scanners, paper cutters (not like the manual ones... the huge machine ones that could chop your arm off...), and even a PAPER FOLDING MACHINE, which is AMAZING -- it folds your documents to the size you specify in less than a second -- it just shoots it out!)

so... yes. so far, so good. (the whole getting up early thing has been... not so fun. but it's all part of the experience... i guess? and a perfect excuse to drink more coffee.) i love the people i work with, i love the assignments (and freedom/creative license!) i've been given, and i love the experience i've already gotten. i have a feeling it's going to be a great summer. :)