Our Interns and Their Stories
Our Interns and Their Stories
Caroline Workman
Gracie Ambur
Kaitlin Scesney
During my internship at the Center, I acquired invaluable experience that will serve me well throughout the rest of my professional and educational careers. Growing up, history was a passion of mine. From an early age, I knew I wanted to study the past to honor the stories and lives of those who lived before me. My experience at the University of Tennessee has taught me how to research and comprehend challenging texts and break down complicated historical concepts engagingly. As students, we were always taught how to do it in the confines of a classroom. The internship enabled me to gain the added step necessary to obtain employment following graduation and practical application of what I have learned over the past four years. We were taught about the importance of incorporating modern technology into the context of history. The purpose is to give everyday people a chance to learn more about local history through an immersive and revolutionary storytelling medium. This allowed interns to utilize Hodges Library’s special collections, where I, among others, could examine archival materials and primary sources related to the confrontations we were studying. We were guided in preserving such materials and digitizing information pages to integrate into our digital humanity projects.
Honestly, one of the best parts about the center is Dr. Magra and research assistant Matthew Kelley who gave the internship a personable feel. Both of them valued the interns’ opinions and gave us a lot of flexibility and respect while working there. I truly felt as if I was a part of the center and all that it stands for. Participating in this internship allowed me to expand on my passion for the subject and develop new skills in history and writing. I am grateful that I was able to share this passion and gain first-hand experience of what it is like to be a historian in the real world.
Sequoia Conkling
When I first read about the internship opportunity at the Center for Tennesseans and War last semester, I was instantly interested. As a freshman, I hadn’t yet gotten the opportunity to really dive deep into researching something that interested me, and so I thought the internship sounded like a great opportunity to really see what being a historian was all about. After completing this semester, I can say with certainty that I was right to be so excited. At the Center, it felt so good to be encouraged to discover what I was truly passionate about, instead of simply completing set assignments. I am so grateful that we were trusted enough to pick our own topics, and really make the projects our own. I feel like this semester has solidified not only my interest in becoming a historian, but also my interest in telling women’s stories that have been so long ignored.
This semester has also left me feeling much more confident in my research skills. Prior to this, I hadn’t really done much in depth research, so I was a little wary going in. However, I was given such good insight into the research process, that now I feel confident in my ability for future projects. I know that I have lots of research ahead of me, so now having these skills will be so beneficial in the long run.
I also really enjoyed the camaraderie that I felt with my fellow interns this semester. Since history isn’t such a dominating major, it’s hard to find other students who also find history fascinating. That’s why it felt so good to spend time in a room with people who are also passionate about uncovering stories and trying to bring them to light for future generations. It certainly made me feel confident that this is what I am supposed to be doing, and for that I am the most grateful.
Kane Mathes
My experience during the internship this semester has been nothing short of amazing. I was afforded the opportunity to learn more about a family friend who sacrificed so much for our country. I was also able to make friends and have a place to laugh and bond with fellow history students. However, the best part of this experience was being able to tell the story of Tennesseans who gave so much to our country and see the other projects about many other veterans from our great state. The internship has without a doubt been one of the best opportunities I have had in my four years at the university and I would strongly encourage any other history majors to partake in the internship.
Jonathon Sharp
The internship at the Center for the Study of Tennesseans and War has been a great opportunity to further my skills as a writer and researcher. The projects I had the opportunity to work on were lots of fun to complete, and the feedback I received from Dr. Magra and Matthew was invaluable. Researching Edward Westcott and military photographers was immensely rewarding, and I was fascinated by the ways in which these veterans served their country. Not only did I learn a lot about the people I was researching, I also learned a lot about the processes of history and the ways in which historical works are completed. My experience at the Center was a great one, and it has been only of my favorite classes at UT!
Jackson Scott
After looking at my family history, I saw an opportunity with the Center for the Study of Tennesseans and War. I could have a better understanding of the time of my ancestors, the early history of my state, and record the story of veterans. Learning more about Blount, veteran land grants, and Tennessee was extremely valuable. This internship allowed me to acquire knowledge about veterans and record their stories while also exploring my own personal history. It was an experience that was irreplaceable.
Drake Nettle
Being an intern at the Center has been a positive experience in more ways than one. First, the internship helped me attain a greater respect and understanding for the people who served in the military. Their service and sacrifice to something bigger than themselves is worthy of respect and coverage, so it is enriching to work with a program that promotes their stories. I feel like I have become a better researcher and historian during my time working at the Center, especially since the program promoted using archival works within Special Collections. Moreover, the Center has encouraged me to help veterans in my community, including cleaning veterans’ gravestones in the local cemetery. The stories of veterans are not confined to the pages of a textbook, but rather, they come to life when you see their memorials or visit Veterans’ Day events. I am grateful for these numerous opportunities the Center has granted me.
Finn Wheeler
When I first heard about the internship at The Center for Tennesseans and War, I was immediately interested in the opportunity to get some real research experience. I was given the opportunity to do research on a subject that I was interested in, World War One and the individuals that fought in it. Specifically, my project was on Alvin C. York, one of the most famous and well decorated American soldiers of World War One. He is most famous for capturing over 130 German soldiers in one day. I found York’s story to be very interesting, and learned a lot more about World War One during my research. My time with the Center has been great, and has given me perspective on work that I would like to do with history in the future.
