HistoryMiami Museum: Week 01 (Noel)

Songwriter Irving Berlin vacationed in South Florida
 (Part of the permanent collection, one of my favorites)

First and foremost, my internship this summer of 2018 is taking place in Miami, Florida at HistoryMiami Museum. During this time, my goal is to learn about the history of Miami, better my interpersonal skills, and time management skills. Meanwhile, I am responsible for representing not only myself and my community, but also the museum and the Smithsonian Institute. Moreover, I have been tasked with a range of assignments that complement not only my experience but my understanding of the purpose of the museum, their goals, implications and impact to the public, how different departments interact with each other to get things done, essentially, and how the HistoryMiami Museum operates.

Before the start of the internship, I met with my supervisor to coordinate my schedule. I was lucky enough to have a very flexible learning experience that focuses on what I want to learn and what I feel is interesting; meanwhile, having tasks that simulate and provide real working experience. Currently my assignment is: learning about the museum innerworkings, including the day to day routine; researching and then creating a PowerPoint presentation full of primary sources that chronicle the development of crime in South Florida. The PowerPoint will be used for a program at the museum with Dr. Paul George, Resident Historian. This assignment will expose me to South Florida and the Museum’s Archive and Research Center.

Furthermore, to accomplish said tasks I have been absorbing as much information as possible and have tried to be as engaged as I can in retaining the things I learn. For example, I am currently compiling a journal where I write notes of things I learn every day and, so far, it has been very helpful in learning the substantial amount of information being received.

While there is a lot to learn, I feel no pressure to know every single detail, nor to am I afraid of being wrong. I think that this lack of pressure and fear is mainly due to the way that the museum has incorporated me as part of the staff. There is a very inclusive and welcoming atmosphere. I have never met a group of professionals that have been so smooth in the introduction and incorporation of interns. My superiors, although they are more knowledgeable and experienced, treat me as an equal rather than an underling, which creates a mutual respect between one another in the office and makes me more interested in what they say as well as more eager to come in every day.

On another note, I have met some very interesting people that have traveled to many places and have the most amazing stories and lessons to share. I hope to get a deeper understanding of the tightly knitted community that roams the halls in this museum. I also hope to become part of it.

Ultimately, there has been a constant flow of real world experience and historical knowledge that has made me appreciate living in South Florida. This week I was part of the Education Department meeting, met all museum staff, and was introduced to the research project. Also, I took a tour of the permanent exhibit called Tropical Dreams, with more information at the HistoryMiami Museum link: http://www.historymiami.org/, that takes you on a journey of over 10,000 years of South Florida History.

From morning meeting and introduction to the staff, to afternoon shadowing and researching, it has been a very intriguing experience and I hope only to continue expanding my curiosity.