Hanna: High School Intern Hanna, 18, New York
Summer Intern, 2009
My first day of CITYarts was extremely nerve-wracking. I was the youngest intern and this was my first work experience. Soon, however, I became very fond of working for CITYarts. I enjoyed working hands-on, seeing the projects up close, and I became very friendly with my fellow interns. I also liked working with volunteers and locals; it was nice to see how other people reacted to the work we were doing. Some of the best moments of my summer involved people from the local community thanking me for working to restore Pieces for Peace.
As a high schooler I especially appreciated how much the CITYarts staff trusted me with the projects. Often we wouldn't have any supervision and this made the work environment more relaxed and fun. If we had a problem, usually it could be solved over the phone. This sort of responsibility made me feel as if I were more than just an intern. Because often I would be one of three interns heading a site, it also improved my people skills immensely. Organizing volunteers became easy by the end of the summer. Overall, it was a great experience and I would love to come back and volunteer at some point.