Words from an Intern
At the beginning of summer, I was fortunate enough to land a media internship at the Bethlehem Center. Basically, I was in charge of making videos and snapping photos of kids in Jump STArt Camp. In truth, I had no idea what to expect, and I carried a hidden fear that I would wind up accomplishing little of importance during my time at the center. But now, after a few months of work, I can clearly see how shallow and pointless my concerns really were.
Despite a few setbacks in the form of lost SD cards and my habit of forgetting to read emails (my bad), I’ve had a fantastic time documenting the events of Jump STArt Camp. Whether it’s a trip to the Challenger Center, a week learning music with East Lake Expression Engine, or an abstract art lesson with a local celebrity painter such as Charlie Newton, the kids are always engaged and no day is ever the same. On a Monday I might be editing videos and then on Tuesday, I could be weeding around pepper plants in the garden with members of the community. There is always something going on at the Beth!
If I’m honest, there’s a legitimate sense of satisfaction that comes when working at the Beth which I didn’t expect. It’s mostly due to the fact that the Beth really is a benevolent and lifegiving center for South Chattanooga. For a long time when I thought about the nature of jobs and careers, I felt a lot of anxiety, mostly bound in a vague suspicion that quite a few jobs are largely inconsequential. However, when I see a family visit the food bank and leave with groceries they didn’t have before or see children practicing art or when I talk to a group of adults attending a community workshop, all my previous fears dissolve. I feel relief with the knowledge that I am helping an organization that is doing some good in the world.
Have I attained fulfillment? Who’s to say. What I am sure of is that I will not forget my time at the Beth once I’m turned back out into the great wide world.
Trevor Reese
Trevor Reese is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a Bachelors in Communications. He is originally from the small town of Loudon, Tennessee and spends his time bass fishing, playing piano, and going to Taco Bell at 3am with his friends.
