The internship program at the Museum of Chinese in America was a great opportunity to learn about how a social impact oriented non profit works, including thinking about ways it could improve. As a Chinese-American myself, I gained a wealth of knowledge about the history of the Chinese-American Experience, which was personally meaningful to me. It was just what I needed, as a student looking to research Asian Diaspora for my thesis, and interested in the applied arts in education, non-profits, and installation design.
What I wish was different
With the position of Media Production Intern, I imagined that I would be able to execute a creative vision using the skills I had (video production, music production, graphic design). It turned out that most of the work I did was supplemental, although I had my hand in a couple of creative projects. I was happy to assist through the tasks I was assigned, but this particular internship position will not help with building one's portfolio. However, I learned so much from the other aspects of the museum's mission and work that I would still encourage students to apply for those learning experiences.
Advice
Make coffee/tea dates with the staff sooner rather than later! Time flies, and speaking to each of them about how they got to MOCA and asking them advice about your career path is always insightful. Before you know it, the internship will be over!
