Organic Gardening Summer Internship

Aaron spent his summer in Manchester creating a organic garden, 1/4 of acre in size.  The intention for the harvest of the garden over the summer was for it to provide healthy produce grown by students for the consumption of other students in the college Union.

"Overall, I was pleased with this summer's work.  I think that despite the failures for large and productive harvest, I provided at least a starting point for future student organic farmers"

Learn more about Aaron's experience here.

Learn more about Rachel's experience here.

Internship, Indiana State University School of Medicine- Fort  Wayne

What she did

Suhad Rashid

Internship, Washington D.C.

Suhad was given an internship opportunity with a Palestinian grass roots organization called United Palestinian Appeal.  This organization works on helping millions of Palestinian refuges all over the Middle East.  Since Suhad was a Palestinian refugee this drew her to this particular organization.

 "They discussed how Palestinians and Israelis view the peace process which was very interesting because they had very different view points. During this briefing I made the connection between their discussion and Symbolic Interaction theory. Both speakers spoke on the same topic that is going on in the same country but with two totally different view points. This is because they have been member of different groups but one society. Also in the room you could see people taking sides by there gestures while the speakers spoke. I enjoyed this briefing very much."

Learn more about Suhad's experience here.

Tapash Deb

Research Student, Illinois State University

Tapash worked in the “Ferrence Research Lab” at Illinois State University. He stayed in an apartment with two other members of his group.  At the beginning he was synthesizing HPz^{t-Bu, Me} and then converting it to KTp^{t-Bu, Me} for future research. Later he had the challenging task to synthesize Tp^t-Bu,MeTrTp^Me,Me which had never been made before.

Learn more about Tapash's experience here.

Daniel Rodriguez

Language Course, Montpellier, France

Daniel took a 31 day trip to Montpellier, a city in France, in the Summer of 2005.  He enrolled in a summer course which was dedicated to the teaching of the French language.  He lived in a Residence Hall, where he met students from the area and all over the world, whose common goal was to learn a way to understand and interact with each other. He became much closer with the other students than he ever thought possible.  He learned much more than to speak French, he opened his mind and developed skills that will help him for many years to come. 

"From the first day, despite our limited ability to speak and compensating with other forms of communication, we started to learn about each other."

Learn more about Daniel's experience here.

Tiffany Maple 

Observed School System, Marburg, Germany

Tiffany traveled to Marburg, Germany for part of her 2005 summer.  While in Marburg she attended a German course to work on her German.  Also she observed a wide range of classes with different ages and learning abilities.  This gave her insight on how the Germany education system works. 

"Well, I am starting to understand how the German education system works now.  I finally asked the principal yesterday.  It is so different than the U.S.  Okay so…from 1^st to 4^th grade is called Grundschule, basically it is their version of grade school.  Everyone (as far as all learning levels) go to this school.  Then, in 5^th and 6^th grade they split into a group A and B based on their ability level.  Once they reach 7^th grade they go to one of three schools…Gymnasium, Realschule, or Hauptschule.  Gymnasium is for the most intelligent students.  I was told about 50% of the students go to Gymnasium.  And after Gymnasium they go to the Universität.  Realschule is for students who are at the middle intelligence level.  Some of them may be advanced on to Gymnasium later but usually only 1 or 2 of them per grade level.  Then Hauptschule is for the lowest level of students.  Both Realschule and Hauptschule only go to grade 10.  At that point the students go to a trade school or a specialized school to begin to work.  The Gymnasium on the other hand, goes until grade 13."

Learn more about Tiffany's experience here.

A Study of Art and Society, Dominican Republic

Caitlin traveled to the Dominican Republic in January 2005 with members of her home congregation to visit their sister church in San Juan.  Caitlin completed a Special Problems course that focused on learning the history of the country, experiencing its modern culture, and finding ties between both through local artwork.  Caitlin used this experience to investigate art and sociology as a course of study while at Manchester College.

“We took a dirt path that eventually settled into a stretch parallel to the river- the source of the lush vegetation and life of this valley. I stood there completely in awe of how beautiful the scene around me was. There are no words to capture it…It was interesting, however, that when some of us left the path for a closer look at the river, the pastor’s oldest daughter (who was maybe 4 and had tagged along with us) started screaming and crying. She didn’t want any of us near the water. I understand that around 14-15 years ago, this river completely flooded out this community and valley, and though this girl is only 4 years old, she must hear stories from her elders of the dangers this river sometimes brings, despite its supply of life and growth. This delicate balance between people and nature, life and death, hope and disaster, is one I have noticed and experienced so much here.”

Learn more about Caitlin's experience here.

Medical Practicum, El Salvador

During their Jan Term in El Salvador, Hikmat and Taylor worked with a doctor and dentist to provide medical care to dozens of people.  This trip enabled them to serve those in need and to gain practical experience in medicine.  Both Hikmat and Taylor plan to enter medical school after graduating from MC.

Learn more about Hikmat & Taylor's experience here.

Greg Robison

Scientific Research, Los Alamos National Laboratory

Greg participated in a highly selective internship program at Los Alamos National Laboratory, allowing him to gain further experience in the scientific world while improving his research skills.  As Greg decides between a career in research or academia, this experience helped him to explore career different career paths and areas of concentration.

“The work at the lab has been rewarding, although I'm not convinced that astrophysics is the right area for me.  I do find it interesting trying to interpret the results of the galactic source that I have previously mentioned.  However, finding that one interesting incident, there are hundreds of other sources that we've looked at that don't reveal anything.  I do believe that I need something that will allow for more hands-on work, or at least something with a bit more variety.  This would seem that an experimental work would be more up my alley.”

Learn more about Greg's experience here.

Amina Santali

Medical Volunteer Program, Accra, Ghana

"Witnessed my first delivery today at about 9:50a.m.  It was a baby girl and she just seemed to 'pop' right out of her mother.  The midwife told me that on some days she can deliver as many as 4 babies in 45 minutes and most days she has no nurses to assist her, that's how short-staffed they are.  The people I feel really sorry for are the patients because they deserve better healthcare.  It didn't take minutes for the baby to be delivered and right afterwards the lady just got up and walked to her bed in the ward - no wheelchair, no physical assistance."  

Learn more about Amina's experience here.

Erica Sewell

Internship in Building Community, Columbia University, NYC

Erica used an imagination grant to further her educational and life experience, serving as a resident assistant for the summer program at Columbia University and experiencing the life and culture of New York City.  Erica plans a career in education and felt that this experience gave her an opportunity to mentor and advice high school students as well as broader her own perspective by living and working in New York.
                

"One of our training sessions dealt with interviewing each other.  It helped me to see that people become more open once you get them talking and they feel more comfortable.  I feel better knowing that others go through the same situations as me or something similar even through we come from different places and backgrounds."

Learn more about Erica's experience here.

Courtney Young

Comparative Civilization, Spain, France, and Italy

Courtney plans to be a teacher and participated in this Jan Term course in order to gain a new perspective and creative approach to history.  She is currently student teaching and is simulating her experience abroad in a variety of creative lessons that help her students become a part of her overseas adventure. 

“Rome was the highlight of the trip for me.  This is where I had been waiting ages to go.  Roman ruins have fascinated me since middle school.  That I actually was able to see the Coliseum and Forum was surreal.  I had not grasped before how large to Coliseum was.  It was great to be able to say that I not only got to see the Coliseum, but stand inside it as well.”

Learn more about Courtney's experience here.

Spanish Immersion Course, Quito, Ecuador

Kris participated in intensive Spanish study while spending a summer in Quito, Equador. Kris also spent time traveling and learning about Latin America.  Language abilities will be a integral part of Kris' future career in journalism as a foreign correspondent.

“I remember writing in my application that I always though traveling to be the best classroom in life.  The exposure to the Latin American world, the insight into the mentality and economic, social, and cultural complexities of the Ecuadorian people are beyond any possible evaluation.  The advice I received was very true - there is not other way of learning these things; one has to see them firsthand.”

Learn more about Kris' experience here.

Paul Sparks

Lois Herr for Congress, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Paul used imagination grant funding to spend a summer working for the Lois Herr for Congress campaign.  Paul worked on the media team and directed volunteer and voter registration efforts for the campaign.  As a sociology major, Paul is still exploring career options.

"I did learn.  I did discover new abilities and develop old skills.  I could presumably apply those to a job interview or resume.  But what I'll do with this experience is use it to deepen my understanding, to further nuance my perspective on life, government, a myriad of subjects.  And maybe when it is time to settle down and find a real job, I'll think back on this experience and use what I've learned to pick out the right one, the good one."

Learn more about Paul's experience here.