The first step in making a big impact in your career is gaining experience, and Alverno juniors Clara Knitter and Avery Maxwell are getting just that–through the power of internships. These students are receiving valuable insight, both professionally and personally, allowing them to connect with Alverno’s 8 Abilities in a deeper way.
Knitter, a public health major with a focus on health education, found exactly what she was looking for with her internship at the Wauwatosa Health Department. Working with their public health specialists and strategists, she admits this internship is no small undertaking. However, Knitter’s confidence in her abilities aided her in being able to shift her focus to the positive. “I quickly learned that I had to shift my perspective from worrying about not having done certain things before to being excited to learn new things and excited to practice the real-life application of concepts I had learned so far,” she says.
Maxwell, a business and management major, has a similar outlook on the Abilities in her role as a ticket operations intern with the Milwaukee Bucks. Her understanding of the 8 Abilities has evolved during her time in the industry, and she emphasizes how important they are in the workforce. “My specific position uses the abilities all the time and I often unknowingly apply them to my work. Alverno has instilled them to become natural and I analyze my work around them without even knowing!”
Knitter’s confidence in her ability to succeed comes in part from Alverno’s 8 Abilities. “When I first began at Alverno,” she says, “I had thought of the 8 Abilities as different ‘parts.’ As I’ve continued my education and begun applying them in my internship, I realize how interconnected they are.”
“The 8 Abilities are not just something we are graded on or a requirement needed to graduate,” says Maxwell. “They are real-life skills that can be applied anywhere. I get compliments from my coworkers on how prepared and professional I always am, and honestly, Alverno built a lot of that in me. I have developed a stronger sense of resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving prowess that will undoubtedly serve me well in my future endeavors.”
