INTERNSHIP INSIGHT: Ryan Childress' Classroom Experience Keys Success At Cape Ann Whale Watch

BEVERLY, Mass. — Endicott College is a pioneer in requiring comprehensive internship experiences for undergraduate students in every program of study. Ryan Childress (Odessa, Fla.), who is an environmental science major and a member of the men's volleyball team, recently interned at Cape Ann Whale Watch. Here's a look into his internship experience.

1. Why did you decide to choose Cape Ann Whale Watch as your internship? 

I chose Cape Ann Whale Watch for my internship because it perfectly combines the things I love about my major, environmental science. One side of the internship is very scientific and research-oriented, while the other focuses on making the information we gather more accessible and understandable to the average person. To me, the most important thing about science is that it's accessible to everyone, and being able to help work toward that goal has been incredible.

2. What was the process like to obtain your internship?

The process of obtaining this internship was much more casual than my past internships. My internship coordinator sent an email about this opportunity to all the senior biology and environmental science students, and I sent in my resume and cover letter as usual. The interview was very laid back; mostly, my supervisor was just trying to get a picture of who I was as a person rather than my specific skill set. 

3. What does a typical day look like for you at your internship?

My internship was half in person and half online. During the in-person part of the internship, I went out on the Hurricane II on either one or two trips in a day. On the way out of the harbor, either Rock (the other intern) or I would give a Gloucester harbor tour to the 100-200 people on board. Once we were out on the open water, we would walk around with educational materials and teach the guests about whales, their habitat, and biology. Once we spotted whales, Rock and I were doing data collection and taking pictures to properly ID the whale. On the way back, we would answer any questions from guests.

4. What have you learned from this internship that you think will be valuable in your future career?

Public speaking and communication were key in this internship. Becoming comfortable talking to anyone about anything to do with whales, and having confidence while doing so, taught me to trust myself and what I have learned, and be more confident while on the job. 

5. How has your academic experience at Endicott prepared you for the responsibilities of this internship?

I found that what most prepared me for this internship was the knowledge gained during class about the world and the environment in general. Many people asked me much more than just about whales, from global warming to the energy crisis. Being able to answer their questions about anything related to the field was instrumental in my success within my internship. Data collection during class specifically helped me understand the data collection process with Cape Ann quickly. 

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