Summer Internships Giving Midland Students Insight Into Daily Workplace Experiences
A summer internship with the Hanger Clinic: Pediatric Prosthetics & Orthotics in Omaha hit close to home on a personal level for Tanna Christensen.
Christensen, a senior Exercise Science major at Midland University, was involved in an accident when she was nine years old and nearly lost her ability to walk. “Luckily, I was able to recover,” she said. “Through this internship, I learned how medical devices, such as orthotics and prosthetics, can change a person’s life. This experience has driven me to pursue a degree in prosthetics and orthotics.”
Internships like Christensen’s can be life, and career-changing moments for Midland University students. She was one of more than 60 Midland students to participate in an internship this past summer, with those students accumulating nearly 8,500 hours in their respective fields. Before they graduate from Midland, 90 percent of all students will participate in either an internship or a field-based experience. Midland students complete the majority of internships during their junior and senior years.
“Getting that hands-on experience is so important,” said Dr. Tesa Keeling, Dean for the College of Health Professions. “The classroom component is an important part of the process, but those hands-on experiences are where a lot of the learning takes place. Learning those skills on a daily basis is setting students up for success.”
Christensen’s responsibilities included assisting in brace fabrication and repair, sewing straps for braces, and creating foam pads for patients. “Through this experience I was able to learn so much about the fabrication and adjustments of orthotics and prosthetics, as well as gaining experience in patient care,” she said. “My biggest takeaway from this experience was seeing how medical devices can truly make a huge difference for a person and increase their quality of life.”
The daily experience and knowledge she gained during her internship will serve a greater purpose as she looks to advance her education and career. “It has helped me develop skills I will use in both my graduate program and future career,” she said. “The exposure to a clinical environment has helped me understand what a work day looks like and has given me a greater confidence level.”
As a Digital Marketing major, senior Maddy Fauver got a glimpse into the business world while working as a sales intern during her summer internship with Holmes Murphy, an insurance broker in Omaha. Her responsibilities included meeting with clients, coordinating office events, and navigating through the summer sales campaign.
“I learned about the power of networking and relationship building,” Fauver said. “Being involved in the community expands your network, allowing you to build connections and grow relationships. Within these relationships, the importance of understanding each individual will help with the questions you ask, the approach you take, and the outcome of events.
“My internship allowed me an inside look into the business world and has inspired me to continue the path I’m on and build connections for the future.”
Internships also provide an important step if students choose to further their education through a graduate program. “I have had many faculty members tell me they see a great level of success for these students to be accepted into graduate programs because of the robust internship experiences they’ve had,” Keeling said.
Finding the right internship is a partnership between the student and their internship coordinator, usually a faculty member. “We will work with the student during the process and find the right fit for them,” Keeling said. “We will address any concerns there might be and get feedback from both the student and organization to see if there is anything we can do differently. Anytime I have talked with our community partners, they have been very complimentary of our students. Midland students tend to be very engaged and committed to their area of study.”
Keeling believes it is important to keep an open mind when pursuing an internship. “I encourage students to use every opportunity as a learning experience,” she said. “No matter what your experience might be, there is always something to be learned. I have interacted with students who had an internship they weren’t initially excited about and ended up falling in love with it. Even if it’s something that might not have been their first choice, it opened up new doors for them.”
Completing an internship is a vital part of the college journey, one that Fauver believes will set students up for success in whatever vocation they choose to pursue.
“I would encourage any student to complete an internship and gain that experience outside of the classroom,” she said. “Meeting with business professionals and learning from experienced individuals is inspiring for the future, and you will be learning skills that will help in any industry.”
