This summer, we are going to feature MSU students who have completed awesome internships. Some have interned in the mid-Michigan area, others as far away as LA, some in the public sector, a few at large corporations, but they all have one thing in common: relevant experience on their resume.Spartan Interns Dont believe us? Check back for new articles and see for yourself. Whether you are on an internship yourself or want to get inspired for your own internship search, you can learn from each story.

Nahid Husain, elementary education major from the class of 2009, was an intern at the Refugee Development Center (RDC) in Lansing from January 2009-April 2009. What does the RDC do exactly? As they state on their website, “With the help of volunteers and community partners we provide refugees with the skills they need to succeed.” This includes programs such as after-school tutoring, English as a Second Language (ESL) and citizenship classes, a driving simulator, and more.

Here is what Husain has to say about her experience.

CSN: What prompted you to do an internship?

NH: It was part of the required courses for my international development specialization.

CSN: How did you find your internship and how long did it take to obtain the internship?

NH: I had heard of the RDC through other friends who had volunteered there, and it fit perfectly with my specialization and my interest. I talked to the director of the RDC several months beforehand and, therefore, beyond the time for my paperwork, it did not take long to set it up.

CSN: What were your responsibilities at the Refugee Development Center? What was your typical day like?

NH: On Monday evenings, I went to the RDC to participate in field work. This basically means that I worked as a volunteer that evening and helped kids with homework, planned special activities for kids (e.g., movies, game nights, dance nights) and monitored children’s computer use. On Fridays we had staff meetings and more administrative paper work to do.

CSN: How many hours a week did you work? How did you manage your school and work schedules and the workloads for both?

I worked about 9 hours at the RDC each week. I planned my schedule in such a way that I knew that Mondays were my busiest days and I had enough time in the rest of the week planned out to finish school work. Fridays, I only worked until the afternoon time, so I was able to spend part of the evening working on school work as well. It all really came down to time management and staying ahead in classes as much as possible.

CSN: What were the strong points or highlights of your internship experience?

NH: I was able to meet people and hear their refugee stories from around the world. I was able to work with students struggling in English, and I loved it because ESL is something I hope to do in the future. I was also able to see the administrative side of the organization and help out with the nitty gritty paperwork and program planning.

CSN: What was the most significant thing you learned from your experience?

I learned that a person’s passion for their work is really what helps them do an excellent job and without that passion, it’s hard to really put in a good effort.

nahid husain

CSN: In what ways were you able to incorporate knowledge gained from your classes into the workplace?

I was able to use my background in education to help the students as well as integrate my knowledge of international development to assess some first hand stories of various countries around the world.

CSN: Your internship was for credit, but it was unpaid. Tell me about working as an UNPAID intern. Was it worth it? Was it different from working in a paid position? Did you have to do anything to make extra money on the side?

I did not go into the RDC internship expecting money. I was working as an Office of Cultural and Academic Transitions (OCAT) Aide in Abbot Hall on campus, which paid my room and board, so I wasn’t really looking for much extra money (although we could all use some extra sometimes). I think the experience was well worth the effort not only in learning about a non-profit organization but also hearing the stories of some of the refugees and getting a chance to work with them and help them improve their lives through education.

CSN: How might you utilize contacts made during your internship in the future?

NH: I hope to teach internationally one day, and I think this experience with the RDC and the people who we serve will help me in terms of finding places to go and people to work with.

CSN: You just recently graduated. Is your internship experience helping you in your job search now?

NH: I graduated with a degree in education and through MSU’s education program, students have a fifth year internship/student teaching. I will be completing my internship in Chicago Public Schools beginning in August. However, I am sure that as I get my certification to teach next year and begin looking for jobs outside of the country, I will be able to use my experience with working with refugees and education as a way to show my interest and passion for international education.

CSN: Do you have any advice for students who may be looking for an internship, or who already have an internship but want to make it a success?

NH: Go above and beyond what is expected of you. Not only do you make a good impression, but you really get more out of it that way. Of course, you only get what you put in. So, put in a lot.