My experience at the Taubman Museum of Art was wonderful. Outside of my usual academic pursuits, I discovered new challenges and dynamics within a professional environment. Although I gained a plethora of new experiences and skills, there are three distinct lessons that arose from my internship. Through working at the Taubman, I gained a better understanding of the importance of professional utility, the necessity of meticulous work, and the extended execution of major projects. In this reflection, I will discuss each of these lessons and their place within my internship.

The first lesson I learned was the importance of professional utility. This seems to be a reoccurring lesson. During my time in the English department at VMI, I have had numerous professors communicate the importance of a wide variety of skills. At first, I was disturbed by this idea. I equated it with a sacrifice of specialization for mediocrity in numerous fields. However, this is not so. During my internship at the Taubman, I worked on a sundry of different projects. I wrote press releases, collected data, sent emails, drafted social media strategy, herded masses of children, and designed web pages. The ability to learn new skills and adapt to new challenges was constantly honed at the Taubman. The full-time staff reflected this flexibility. They seamlessly worked across departments, completing projects through versatile collaboration. I began to notice the practical application of utility. It enhanced collaboration and was inextricable from valuable workers. In addition, I learned that specialization did not have to be sacrificed. Although many department heads displayed remarkable versatility, they were also specialists in their field. In my mind, I had created a false dichotomy of specialization and utility. However, I saw the two attributes effectively combined at the Taubman. In addition, I conducted research for VMI throughout the duration of my Taubman internship. As I delved into the specific nuances and complexity of my research, I simultaneously worked the various jobs at the Taubman. By finding a balance between the two, I learned that specialization and utility not only can coexist but also thrive.

The second lesson I gained from the Taubman was the necessity of meticulous work. Being an intern, I was often given work that was very time consuming and somewhat bland. One example of this type of work was my realtor database. In order to target incoming residents, the Taubman’s Member and Patron Service Coordinator wanted to offer a special deal for realtors. This deal would provide a discounted membership package that realtors could give to their clients. After being informed of this end goal, I gathered the contact information for over 500 realtors in the Roanoke and Blacksburg area. This job required hours of monotonous copying. Although the process of collecting the data was mundane, the greater goal was exciting. During this project, I gained a better appreciation of tedious work. Without the small efforts, the large project would fail. This is necessary to remember as a lower echelon employee. It is easy to become discouraged when looking at micro-tasks; yet, when conceptualized as a whole, these tedious jobs take on a greater and more meaningful existence. I learned that this transition of paradigm is crucial to empowering workers. Meticulous work can be frustrating when viewed alone. Nonetheless, when situated within the whole, it takes on a new importance.

The third lesson I learned at the Taubman was a better approach to the extended duration of major projects. My schedule at VMI is very demanding. Like the calendar of every cadet, my week consists of a wide variety of obligations and tasks. However, the deadlines for these errands are short. Everything seems to happen in a very limited amount of time. School work, military training, and recreation all operate on an expedited and strict timeline. Other than a cadet’s capstone or thesis, long projects are rare at VMI. However, at the Taubman, I participated in long marketing campaigns. The largest project I participated in encapsulated my internship. In September, a new exhibition is coming to the Taubman: DRIVE: Iconic American Cars and Motorcycles. Marketing for this exhibition is a huge task, one which stretches before and after my internship. The majority of my work in the marketing department was preparing for this exhibit. Quickly, I realized that the campaign could not be finished in a week or even a month. I was forced to transition from the prompt task-orientated-production of VMI to the paced marathon of professional marketing campaigns. Once again, this required a larger perspective. I needed to focus on the particular immediate task, while continually maintaining a focus on accomplishing the whole. The Taubman helped me practically apply this idea. Specifically, it aided my research at VMI. My summer’s research was the most extensive work I have done on a single subject. At points, I became frustrated with the slow pace of writing and revising. Nonetheless, influenced by my new pacing at the Taubman, I adjusted for the extended duration. I learned to view the immediate in light of the entirety of the project.

During my time at the Taubman, I worked with numerous different personalities on a variety of jobs. From picking up Legos to meeting with radio marketers, I experienced the inner workings of an art museum. Along the way, I gained a better understanding of the value of utility, the importance of meticulous work and the extended execution of major projects. Overall, I answered my question at the beginning of the internship: How does the creative interact with the professional? They interact through necessity. Without the discipline of administrative and bureaucratic work, the creativity of the artist is never displayed. For every painting that hangs on the wall a stack of papers sits on a desk. Although the professional aspect is not always glamorous or invigorating, it is crucial in creating the freedom of artistic expression.