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Profile
of Jon Ebel, Intern, PPW/Writing Center, 12/05
by Jon Ebel
PPW/Writing Center Publicity Intern
 As
I began to search for an internship, I neglected the fact that I
now worked during the day, when most internships are scheduled.
When I learned that the internship with the Writing Center was flexible,
I felt that it was my chance to give back to the program that had
already given me so much. As a Nonfiction English major, I thought
it would be a good idea to intern with the Writing Center/Public
and Professional Writing Program.
I had to be somewhat aggressive to get the internship because once
I decided to go for it, I heard the first person to submit the required
papers to Jean Grace, the supervisor, would get the position. Luckily,
I heard this news late Friday afternoon, giving me enough time to
collect the documents and have them in Jean’s mailbox before
I went to work Monday morning.
I work mostly by myself at the Writing Center amongst tutors and
students revising essays. I enjoy working alone and being able to
receive feedback on my work. Although the Writing Center can be
chaotic at times, it is usually a very stress-free atmosphere where
I can get a lot of work done.
Some of my tasks include updating databases; writing articles for
the PPW newsletter, profiles on my fellow interns, and a research
report; planning an event; and designing a few flyers. I do most
of my work off-site during the evening since I have to be elsewhere
every weekday morning.
My internship is not very strict--I work at my own pace. The person
who critiques my work the most is me!
Sometimes I am relentless with my work--it has to be perfect in
my eyes before it can go to someone else’s. It can be intimidating
to write in an academic setting.
Real world, here I come! This internship gives me the confidence
that I will need to brave the professional world. Planning the end-of-term
event was empowering and I enjoyed it immensely. Researching and
conducting surveys for a possible workshop focused on finding a
job made me feel part of the decision-making process. I hope to
take my skills to a nonprofit organization, perhaps for fundraising
purposes.
Anyone with a busy schedule will like this internship’s flexible
schedule. In addition to my internship, you can find me writing
anything (memoir, comedy, newsletter articles, songs, etc.), playing
disc golf, singing, and learning everything about anything.
My personal goals include meeting a good girl, falling in love and
raising a family while my professional goals include working with
senior citizens and creating my own publication(s).
I enrolled in the Public and Professional Writing Program because,
at the time, I was interested in technical writing. Today, I have
learned so much more than the technical aspect of writing –
I have learned to write in various professional settings, which
is great to know. No matter what business or field you work in,
communication is important. Too many mistakes in the professional
world are a result of bad communication. Without a doubt, a Certificate
in Public and Professional Writing is an excellent investment. |
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