Every year, the Contemporary Jewish Muesum "hires" fifteen (15) teens to take part in the Teen Art Connect program. The program allows these teens to learn more about the inner workings of a muesum while experiencing and learning about Jewish culture. As new TACs, we've been learning and learning and learning and learning. We've gotten new responsibilities and roles, not to mention a all the rules to follow.
First, some introductions. All of you are probably familiar with Lena. She's the only returning TAC from last year. The remaining fourteen are probably not so familiar. On the grid of portraits below, we have Stacie, Moises, Haleemah, Landis, Zoe, Iedryn, Monique, Evan, Nina, Kyle, Francesca, Ema, Simone, and, of course, me. I'd like to say that we've gotten to know each other quite well in the three and a half months that we have been here. Training with these people is fun! Work shifts with these people are fun! Fun is in the air! Yay! Fun!
Because we've taken positions that we aren't familiar with, we've had to be sponges and take in just about everything related to what we have to do. This is where are training sessions come in handy. We began this internship with a huge two week training session in June during which we came to the museum Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Training was definitely a mix of school-type instruction and play. We discussed expectations, an important component of working with a team of people. In addition, we learned about tour styles that we should apply to our upcoming architecture tours. We worked with identity, Judaism, and art too. Finally, we visited various muesums around San Francisco and met up with some of their teen interns.
After that chunk of training we got to work. Oh the horror! Just kidding. I was a bit nervous when I arrived for my first shift, but I was lucky to be here with fellow TACs and Annie, the visitor services manager at the CJM. She's super important to us because we almost always check in with her when we arrive. We have a few different types of shifts. Many of us run coat check on the days when we are assigned. We also get to help out at the StoryCorps booth at the museum. Our prescence is also requested for public events and administrative help as well. TACs learn to be quite the versatile worker.
So far, my experience at the muesum has been really great. I've done things I've never done before. I've met people I would never have even talked to. I've interacted with adults in a work environment. It's been a wild experience, just not the animal or the party kind. I feel incredibly lucky to have been given this opportunity to learn and work and talk and study and socialize all at the same time, and I hope that the following months will bring me undeniable edification.
I think that's it for now.
Okay, bye.
Anthony
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