A Summer at the Penn Museum

My name is Kristin Aliquo, and I’m a rising senior at Temple University with a double major in Media Studies and Production and Advertising. This summer, I was given the unique opportunity to intern at the Penn Museum, which is centrally located on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus.  

As a student uncertain of what she wants her career to look like, a double major felt like the best choice for me. I’m always looking for ways to broaden my horizons. I came into this internship to gain an understanding of what working in a marketing role as part of an educational institution would look like. I hoped that the position would provide me with some insight on what I want to do with my career. To that end, I was successful.  

Did this internship answer all of my questions, and give me absolute certainty about where I want to go with my career? Absolutely not! But I did gain valuable work experience and a direction of where I could see myself in 20 years. 

What I learned

As a Marketing and Communications Assistant, my responsibilities included coordinating emails, creating social media content, copywriting, and data collection. My primary task was to create a blog post for the Penn Musuem’s website outlining the internship program. 

The overarching theme I noticed with my tasks was the importance of feedback. I am human. I can pour hours into a project and still miss things. This is where an extra set of eyes can come in handy.  

I also have to be okay with going a different direction if that is what others think is best. Receiving feedback with grace is integral to the function of any role. My supervisors were always supportive of my growth, and I learned so much just from their constructive comments.  

Insights for my Career

I am pleased to have been given the opportunity to work at the Penn Museum. Interns here are treated as valuable members of the department. My team always sought out my thoughts and were patient when I did not immediately get the hang of things. Working with such amazing people taught me that I should look for a place where I will be respected, even if I’m a temporary member of the company.  

I also learned how rewarding nonprofit initiatives are. When I’m doing marketing for an educational purpose, it feels like I’m doing something inherently good. I will certainly be considering nonprofit organizations as a viable place to work in my future. 

Finally, I learned how much I love video production. I created two social media videos during my time at the museum, and it was the most fun I had. Putting together concepts, executing them, and then getting to edit my piece together is such a rewarding experience. I hope that I have the opportunity to produce more video content moving forward.  

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Penn Museum summer internship program has blown my expectations out of the water. The work environment is unmatched. I would highly recommend it to those interested in museum work, educational opportunities, and nonprofit organizations.