Elizabeth A. Bollwerk
University of Notre Dame
South Bend, Indiana
Dear Distinguished Members of the Notre Dame Anthropology Community,
As one of the first participants of the University of Notre Dame National Museum of Natural History Internship Program in Anthropology I would sincerely like to thank you for all your efforts to make this program possible. This internship has been a life-changing experience for me and will certainly be a valuable asset to Notre Dame students for years to come.
Perhaps one of the best opportunities afforded by this program is the life lesson it will undoubtedly teach all of its participants. Although I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Smithsonian, it was very different from what I was expecting. I admit to having a somewhat idealized view of what conducting research in a museum would entail, but understanding the reality of how things work in a museum environment has given me a much better idea of what steps I need to take to prepare for a career of this kind. The advice and assistance I have received from the Smithsonian staff has been and will continue to be a valuable resource for decision-making in the future.
Other opportunities, such as the ability to attend the World Archaeology Congress, a conference that is only held every five years in various locations worldwide, have also given me a great deal of direction for the future. Meeting archaeologists from all over the world and discussing their work was enlightening to say the least, and allowed me to study some of the advances being made in the discipline of archaeology. The contacts I made in this area will no doubt prove exceedingly useful in the future as well.
Furthermore, the fact that Notre Dame interns are invited to participate in all of the activities offered by the Smithsonian Research Training Program is another amazing advantage. The lectures, discussions, and collection and facility tours, which encompassed everything from sea cucumbers to meteorites, revealed a realm of knowledge that I never thought I would be able to partake in. Yet, the information I gathered from world-renowned scientists was not the only thing that impacted my experience. I also learned a great deal from my fellow interns by observing their work and seeing the passion they had for their own research. This not only allowed me to make friends who will become contacts in other disciplines, but has also left me determined to make myself more aware of advances in areas outside of my immediate field of interest. I would ask that you keep the option to participate in RTP activities available for future students, as I believe it is a vital part of what made the Smithsonian experience so amazing.
For all of these unique and wonderful opportunities I again offer my humble appreciation. The knowledge and experience I have gathered over the past ten weeks is priceless, and will no doubt play a major role in shaping my future. It has truly been the chance of a lifetime.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth A. Bollwerk
University of Notre Dame National Museum of Natural History Internship Program
in Anthropology, 2003
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