In their own words - Intern Reflections 2010

The summer internship was more fun and fulfilling than any other summer work I’ve done. Everyday was different. I got a comprehensive view of youth ministry and I learned so much about my own gifts and strengths. The best part of the summer for me was spending time with the youth. All the shared joy, laughter, singing, dancing, meals, and conversations emphasized the love and support found in this community. This experience was truly a blessing in my life!

- Ellen Weaver (St. Olaf)

I initially decided to apply for the internship based on conversations with previous occupants of the position. My history with the diocesan events and Chad as a youth had been very positive, and I entered with almost no reservations. I had heard the job described as “very friendly” and “laid back,” but didn’t fully realize the nature of the work environment until the first week on the job. While Chad’s leadership skills do facilitate a relaxed atmosphere, the significance of this job is so much more than that. To potential interns, I would describe it more appropriately as a job where that which seems “laid back” is in fact a genuine acceptance and deep-spiritedness that truly models the community that Christ sought to build. Anyone with an interest youth ministry would benefit immensely from a summer immersed in this environment. For me personally, it translated into huge personal and spiritual growth, both in my relationship with God and with others. In this way, the internship illuminates a deeper understanding of the relationship-driven sense of community that exists in the youth of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, an understanding that serves as a fundamental building block for any youth program. To attempt to sum up the summer internship in a paragraph is a wasted effort, but from my personal experience in the position, I can tell you that it has unquestionably produced one of the most memorable and meaningful summers of my life.

- Dalton Harts (Berklee School of Music)