Emma interned as a research assistant at the BYU Library during Winter 2023 Semester.
Briefly explain what you did and the result of your internship.
I worked on multiple research projects, including acquisitions projects, the Richard Horsley Project, and working with Patrons at the desk. I learned a lot more about libraries, equipment used to preserve genealogical documents, became more proficient at researching, and learned how to do descendance research.
What did you learn on your internship that you were not expecting to learn?
I was able to formulate more of a plan of what I would like to do after I graduate. Before, I thought that I might want to get a library science degree, but I found that I really enjoy client research and would like to pursue a career in that field rather than attend graduate school.
How have your future plans changed because of what you learned from your internship experience?
As I mentioned before, I have realized that I would like to take a slightly different career path than I originally thought.
Please share how your experience led to personal inspiration or insightful revelation.
This internship has been very meaningful, as much of the work I did helped connect families to information about their personal history. I have felt the power of uniting families through genealogy.
Would you recommend this internship to other students?
Yes, I felt that I got exposure to many different facets of genealogy and history. I had many different projects, which helped me to diversify my skills and my portfolio. It was also very customizable, so I was able to decide which projects I felt would benefit my learning the most.
