Summing Up

Today’s post is coming to you from the beyond…

… beyond the internship, that is, as my last day as the McDermott Education Intern for Family and Access Teaching was this past Friday. While cleaning out my desk, wrapping up remaining projects, and getting those last few classes in, I had the opportunity to take stock of everything that went into the 49.5 weeks I spent at the Museum. Of course, what began as idle curiosity (I wonder how many Arturo Letters I’ve actually answered…) became a challenge to see if I could do the math on the past year. Here’s what I have:

• 9,145 Arturo Family Gallery Guides printed and folded
• 2952 pictures uploaded to the Center for Creative Connections Flickr page
• 300+ Arturo Letters answered

“We had so much fun in the nest the art was so inspiering I loved it. You look Gart. Love, Ellie”

“I hope you are haveing a good day I have loved you for a long time I am 9 years old. Love, Jovi”

“Do you want to come to my birthday party? if you canot go can you come to my Halloween party on October 31, 2014? I have you have a grate day! Love, Victoria”

• 200+ Arturo Letters received without an address to respond to
• 150+ classes co-taught

Storytime in the gallery in front of Takenouchi no Sukune Meets the Dragon King of the Sea

In front of Takenouchi no Sukune Meets the Dragon King of the Sea

• 50+ art projects tested
• 31 parent handouts designed
• 20 gallery activity sheets created
• 12 books checked out from (and returned to) the Mayer Library
• 10 school tours given
• 10 blog posts written (including this one and one on the DMA Uncrated blog)
• 7 fellow McDermott Interns befriended

In front of the Piano Building at the Kimbell in Fort Worth

Jumping at the Kimbell

• 4 lesson plans written (and more contributed to)
• 1 Gallery Talk delivered
• 1 conference attended

The classic jumping picture!

Panel discussion of museum educators who became directors.

Interns arrive at the convention center!

• 1 fantastic replacement intern hired (watch out for Emily come September!) and
• 1 FAST (Family, Access, Schools and Teachers) team that made all the difference

Though each statistic helped me grow (yes, even the 9,145 Family Guides), this list doesn’t come close to conveying the impact these 346 days spent as a McDermott Intern have had on me. At every turn, someone in the Museum was there with a smile or encouraging word. I got to know the museum of my childhood in an entirely new light. I learned as much from the audiences I worked with as they (hopefully) learned from me. I made true friends and recognized a career I have a real passion for. I also got very good at unjamming printers (yes, because of the 9,145 Family Guides).

To sum up my sentiments at the end of this blog post–and the end of my internship–I figure it’s only appropriate to add one final figure to my list:

• 1,000,000 thank you’s, best wishes, and see you soon’s –

Jennifer Sheppard
2014-2015 McDermott Intern for Family and Access Teaching