John Staszewski

Anthropology, History, Political Science

The Monitor Center at the Mariner’s Museum

What was the most exciting thing about your role?

The most exciting thing about my role was being so close to the remains of USS Monitor. Being so connected with a piece of history as unique as this vessel is a humbling experience. It is hard to explain how the story and remains of one ship can instill such feelings of joy and sorrow, but being able to work what remains certainly brings you much closer to events that took place.

What surprised you most about your internship?

What surprised me most as an intern with the Monitor Center was the willingness of all members of the team to include me as an equal in their work. From day one I was treated as a close colleague with valuable input. Each member did everything they could to teach me and share their experiences. This allowed me to learn far more than I could have ever hoped and gave me a preview of what a group of not only colleagues, but friends, can do in the workplace.

How did you apply your Liberal Arts-skills to your internship position?

I was able to apply skills I’ve gained throughout my time in liberal arts by recalling what I’d learned about handling delicate research. I was able to perform detailed analysis of my work and apply proper scientific writing in order to easily relay my findings.

How has your internship prepared you for your career?

My internship has prepared me for a career by giving me firsthand experience not only in a field I wish to pursue, but also dealing with a specific topic I wish to explore. I was able to apply the process of hands on research to prepare my findings in the form of a publication and conference.