Monday, August 13, 2018
By:
“Not only can teachers be great leaders in the classroom, but they can also be great leaders in policy, research, and innovation.” - Me
Dear Internet,
And so, my summer internship at the American Association of Physics Teachers ends. I apologize beforehand about this blogpost--not only have I been only speaking Spanish for the past couple of days (and therefore losing my command of English), the end of this internship is filled with a bunch of feelings that aren’t going to accurately represent themselves through words.
The last week was spent packing, cleaning, and doing last-minute activities with the other interns. We visited the Kennedy Center to see one of their daily free shows, this one with a focused on contemporary music. The interns at American Center of Physics also went out to Busboys and Poets for lunch--that place is delicious. They have some of the best sweet potato fries I’ve ever eaten, without a doubt.
Practice day, the Thursday before our presentations, was nerve-wracking. It was the first time I had cohesively talked about my summer in front of people. I was so excited to talk about it, that I ended up Despite my nerves and mistakes made during practice day, I was told that my presentation during the Internship Symposium went well. To be completely honest, I don’t remember one second of the ten minutes I was up there. All I remember is standing up, and looking for the microphone, and then sitting back down again once it was all over. I’m glad to have a recording of it!
After that I rushedly packed all night, and exchanged goodbyes with the other interns, my mentors, and the various people I’ve met this summer. I may or may not have cried on my uber ride to the airport.
I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to be in spaces surrounded by people who were so enthusiastic about physics and physics education. It was surreal---almost as surreal as my first physics classroom at Barnard, the first time I had been surrounded by like-minded women physicists. I’m sad to leave, but excited to take what I’ve learned this summer back to my communities so that I can better help them and their physics education.
I’ll be back D.C! Just you wait,
Krystina Williamson
2018 AAPT Intern
Krystina Williamson