Page 12
Focus
Jan. 23, 2002
Students gain on-the-job-training
Becca Lestner
Reporter
Winter term is a 15-day semes
ter known for both study abroad and
unique on-campus classes, but it
can also be a time for career explo
ration and experiential learning.
Three Elon students are taking ad
vantage of the month and have en
rolled in internships courses to gain
career insight.
Karrie Lambeth is a junior hu
man services major and an aspiring
guidance counselor. She is intern
ing at Reynolds High School in
Winston-Salem, N.C., where she
works an average of nine hours a
day with the school’s current coun
selor.
Lambeth’s decision to intern
over winter term has had positive
results she said. “All of your time
is devoted to the one job,” she said.
“It’s the only thing you have to do
and focus on.” The internship is a
requirement of her major, and win
ter term offers the appropriate time
for the focused experience. She
must keep a daily journal, write ar
ticle critiques and complete a final
paper for credit.
There is never a dull moment at
the high school Lambeth says.
“Guidance counselors do it all
at school,” Lambeth said. “They
work with the children and also
with the faculty.”
The job has forced her to make
quick realizations about time man
agement. “It really caught me off
guard that they are always busy,”
she said. “It’s busy non-stop.”
Lambeth has been able to put un
certainties behind her, including
being apprehensive about the age
difference between herself and stu
dents she counsels. “The students
are really respectful,” she said. “I
have not felt like an intern yet.”
While Lambeth spent her days
at the high school, another Elon stu
dent wanted a look at the inside
track of animal medicine.'
Comforting the sick animals
Nicole Bianco is a junior biol
ogy major with a desire to become
a veterinarian. She is an intern at
Countryside Veterinary Clinic in
Photo courtesy of Karrie Lambeth
Junior Karrie Lambeth is spending the month advising students at
Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem. Lambeth, a human ser
vice major, hopes to one day work as a guidance counselor.
bums, compact disc information
Baltimore, Md. Bianco spends her
time shadowing a resident veteri
narian several days a week, includ
ing both nights and weekends.
After a few weeks under her belt.
Bianco has gained experience in
real-life veterinarian responsibility.
“I get to watch surgeries, draw vac
cines, administer anesthesia and
perform x-rays,” she said. “I also
watch to see how she interacts with
clients and diagnoses the animals.”
Bianco said she has seen the ups
and downs of being a veterinarian.
Putting sick animals to sleep by
euthanasia is one such job. “Hold
ing the animal is really scary and
sad when you are watching its eyes
close,” she said.
An Emerging Businessman
A young entrepreneur gets the
chance to explore creative produc
tion during winter term.
Philip Berthelot, a senior busi
ness major, is a winter term intern
working with an already existing
Elori University project. Berthelot
is working with Dr. Richard
Strempek and Elon ImproVibes, a
class which has created its own re
cording label as an entrepreneurial
project.
“I was given the opportunity to
continue through winter term solely
on my own,” said Berthelot. It is
his responsibility to create a full
product catalog for the company,
including descriptions of the al
and a complete order form.
The project has shown Berthelot
how to combine classroom knowl
edge with real-work creativity. “I
pull together everything I have
learned,” he said. “It continues my
spectrum into areas I wouldn’t have
known outside my class work.”
Elon
Yes, you are going to school in
the “Bible Belt,” but there are
places of worship where you
can bring your open mind and
your open heart. Give us a try
at
Shiloh Presbyterian Church
1-85 at Exit 143 - next to Libby Hill restaurant
Suzanne Shoffner, Pastor 226-7664
shadra@netpath.net
Know someone who makes a difference at Elon?
Tell us and we may feature them in an upcoming issue.
pendulum@elon.edu
7