Summer Summary

How do I summarize the summer? I learned about history and race relations. I ate too much. I debated so much I don't want to debate anymore... For a little bit at least. Im going to try to summarize it as directly as I can.


What went well?
The speakers were the best part of the internship. Going on the Time Magazine website and seeing an article about two of the people I just spoke with was pretty awesome. Discussing real issues with people out in the field is great. The trips were amazing. Going to see the places where Emmett Till was tortured, killed, and thrown into the Tallahatchie river was powerful. Seeing a KIPP school that was run well, with a philosophy on teaching, was empowering.


What didn't?
 The office work after the summer school was over was boring. It was the end of the internship and a lot of things had to be finished. These things were the least exciting or thought provoking part of the internship. Mr. Ben Guest called this our "tuition" for everything else. That seems fair.

What was the highlight?
 The trips were the main highlight. Going with the interns to Memphis, traveling to Indianola, seeing the Sunflower County Freedom Project, these things help keep a lot of other things in perspective.

What did you learn?
 I need more time to digest everything in order to give the best answer for this. However I learned a lot about seeing things from another perspective and seeing where other people are coming from.

How have you changed?
 I really can't say yet. I'm probably a little more open minded. I know more about Mississippi. I'm going to think a lot more about the situations and people around me.

How will this internship inform what you do?
 This is another question I can't answer right now. Everything becomes clearer in retrospect. But I know that it will change some of my decisions for the better.

Who do you want to thank?
 I want to thank everyone who helped me inform my decision about this internship, the good people at the Southern Education Foundation, the teachers/administrators at MTC, family, friends, etc. (I feel like I just gave a speech lmao)