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Intern Profile: Brian Schweigl
Since coming to SNC, I have had two internships, and I consider both of them valuable for different reasons. The first internship was related to something I thought I would enjoy and could possibly spend the rest of my life doing. As it turned out, I neither enjoyed it nor plan on exploring a career in that area. Had I not been able to gain that experience, I might still be on a path today leading me toward a career in that field, only to discover much later that it is not something I enjoy. Even though it may appear at first glance that I wasted a semester in that first internship, I realize the importance not only of finding what it is you want to do in life, but also what you do not want to do in life.
My second internship was at the De Pere Planning Department, which has confirmed my interest in planning. This internship has given me valuable experience and I have developed many contacts in the field that could be helpful in the future. I will be attending graduate school next year for my master’s degree in urban planning and my internship has allowed me to gain a basic knowledge of the planning process that I feel gives me an advantage in terms of future employment. Prior to interning with the City of De Pere, I had no real experience in planning, but now I am confident that I can enter the master’s program with a working knowledge of the planning process. Some of my projects with the De Pere Planning Department include organizing citizen responses to FEMA’s new floodplain maps, reviewing site plans for businesses that wanted to expand or build, and preparing staff memos regarding the plans. I also prepared a spreadsheet of zoning requirements, worked with GIS, which is the computer mapping system used by many planning departments today, and conducted research on issues facing the city today, including how to make the city more sustainable.
Both of my internships have helped me get a better understanding of what I want in a career. The experience you will gain through an internship can either affirm your interest in a career or make you realize that you want to do something else. Both of these happened to me, and even now I can look back and see the importance of my experiences. I think every student should have an internship in whatever field it is he or she would like to build a career in, because deciding whether or not you enjoy a career is something you can and should do now instead of later.
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SNC Class:
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| 2008 |
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Intern Title:
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| Planning Intern |
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Company/Organization:
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De Pere Planning Department
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Major/Minor(s):
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Political Science/
History
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