The location and the content of the job allowed for flexibility of learning and personal growth.
What I wish was different
I wish I would have made local connections earlier in the internship with more people.
Advice
Make the most of your time On the island and really immerse yourself in the culture of the outer banks.
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Student Intern
May - August 2019 • Hatteras, NC
What I liked
I personally enjoy that everyday proved to be a different experience no matter what program or task was being done. I also like the connections that this internship was a gateway to trying. For example, I was given the opportunity to do multiple ride-along trips with the National Park Service's Law Enforcement branch on the Hatteras Island National Seashore and the Biologist Teams for the Park Service.
What I wish was different
I don't think I would want to change anything about this internship as it proved to be useful to any area of study. There are opportunities for anyone who might be studying economic all the way to foreign affairs.
Advice
Keep your eyes open for every door of opportunity that might come your way and always try them out even if you think you might not be interested in them.
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Marketing and Social Media Intern
May - August 2019 • Hatteras, NC
What I liked
My experience at the Hatteras Island Ocean Center (HIOC) was something I will never forget. My main job included posting weekly post on Facebook and Instagram to promote the HIOC. I liked having the freedom to use my creativity on the post to help bring in more visitors. To spread the word about HIOC, I developed promotional magnets that were distributed to over 600 vacation homes on the Outer Banks. A lot of times when visitors came in they would say they saw the magnet and came on by. That had a great impact on me because I knew my idea was working. I also got to give kayak tours around the island and show visitors the wildlife found around the Island. One time we found a group of stingrays on our way around which was rare. When it got dark we had campfires at the beach where visitors can come roast marshmallows, learn about constellations, and find crabs on the beach. My summer internship was an amazing experience and I couldn't think HS-C more for the opportunity.
What I wish was different
Twelve weeks is a long time away from home. I did wish it was a little shorter at times, but it was still worth it being down there.
Advice
Go explore the island on your days off! There is lots of stuff to do. I decided to get a job at the local marina down there and I loved it. I met many community members while I was there and I got to learn about there lives living on the island full time. The community there is very nice and if you ever needed help they were there to help. Towards the end of the Internship one friend that I met down there took me offshore fishing on his yacht and it was amazing.
