The Second Time Around

Hi everyone,

This is Lena, here to give you a little background on what it's like for me as a second-year intern at the Contemporary Jewish Museum. If you've been following the blog for a while, you may remember my posts from as early as the summer of 2010. I started as a Teen Art Connect intern the summer after my freshman year, and now that I'm a junior I can barely remember a time when working at the CJM wasn't part of my life!
     

Me working coat check!

 In my first year, I worked on developing skills needed to be successful in any workplace like time management, communication, public speaking and taking initiative, as well as specific skills for working in a museum, like how to work coat check and give an architecture or gallery tour. My fabulous and encouraging boss Leah Greenberg, who runs the teen programs at the CJM, helped me so much in this department-- I felt like there was a certain degree of throwing-us-into-the-fray, but that was completely balanced by Leah's unwavering support.  

Reading to kids in the Curious George exhibit!



This year, my role as a TAC has changed in many ways. My goal at the beginning of the year was to help Leah with duties she would be performing herself, so as to relieve some of the pressure on her (because she has to do a lot!). Officially, I'm now called a Senior Teen Art Connect Intern: Youth Programs Assistant (sounds faaancy, right? Only you have to say it in a British accent). One change is that I work more hours this year since I began my apprenticeship early, instead of starting in January or February. In my apprenticeship hours with Leah, I've worked on a variety of projects like planning trainings for the TACs and developing a proposal for an activity in the Houdini gallery with another TAC, Francesca. Working in admin with other TACs is the most fun for me because we get to joke around and hang out while collaborating on projects. 

My architecture tour group in action!

 Leah's also been giving me more opportunities as a returning TAC to work with other administrators, and recently that has involved my love of visual art, which has been really cool. Zoe, Kyle and I got to design Houdini-themed prints for the upcoming Family Gala, and then we worked with Daniel from the Education Department to edit them so they were exactly what he was looking for. It was crazy fun to get payed for doing something we love!
Overall, working at the museum for a second year has so far been a great experience, and equally as fun as last year. And I'm really enjoying having more responsiblity, since I feel like I'm moving closer to becoming a real adult with concrete goals. I'll be back with more updates as the year progresses!

Later, alligators.
-Lena