Prior to arriving to HGSE, I had envisioned that I would fully immerse myself into student life. I thought, “I’m going to get all of my readings done on time. I’m going to complete my assignments ahead of time. I’m going to attend all of the campus events that I’m interested in. I will not look for an internship because I don’t want anything to jeopardize my ability to engage in everything Harvard has to offer.”
This idea quickly changed. Although I continue to strive towards taking advantage of everything taking place at Harvard (and there is A LOT), I realized that there could be a balance between my school life, my social life, and my work life. The key to being successful is to develop a routine and be disciplined. Developing a routine meant making time for my non-negotiables: class time, mandatory discussion group and reading group meetings, reading/assignment work time, and time for exercise/me time. The discipline aspect to this equation means actually adhering to the schedule. Because I was intentional about my calendar and the way I blocked out time for high priority tasks, I was able to calendar evening events taking place all across Harvard. I have been able to attend one or two events (panels, discussions, social events) almost every night since I arrived at Harvard. Despite this, I have still found myself with a lot of free time (a sample of my schedule for the week is below!).
In early September, I received an email from my master’s program manager, listing many internship opportunities. (Side note: Do not worry about finding an internship. Internship opportunities will be available prior to arriving at HGSE, while at HGSE, all the time! Pay attention to emails and internship fairs! I don’t know of a person that hasn’t gotten an internship that didn’t want one) This particular email listed opportunities with Harvard Ed Portal’s Public-School Partnerships (PSP). This particular team focuses on partnerships between Harvard’s schools and departments with public schools in Boston and Cambridge. I am the Arts Internship Program Intern at PSP. I work 15 hours per week on Wednesdays through Fridays, since those are the days I have most flexibility. My role is to support teachers at a local elementary school to increase learning opportunities for third graders through the arts. I will have the opportunity to design three field trips to Harvard museums, followed by hands-on and active learning opportunities that tie academic content to the arts. This is especially fulfilling for me because prior to HGSE, I was a 3rd grade teacher in Dallas, TX. This internship allows me the opportunity to continue working in an area that I love and allows me to learn more about public schools in Boston.
About three weeks ago an education policy professor posed the question: “How many degrees of separation do you want to be from the groundwork in education? (in this case, from students) That question resonated a lot with me. While at HGSE, it can be very easy to be absorbed by readings, classwork and panels in which you’re interacting with adults and other professionals. After teaching for 5 years in a public-school setting, I knew that I wanted an internship in which I could continue to engage with students and teachers. I also wanted to be able to use my skills and knowledge in a way that could promote a greater cause. And I knew that I wanted an opportunity to further my skills in areas I wanted to improve. My internship position fulfills each of these needs. I have been able to use my experience to invest and engage teachers in the mission of our program. I am able to create and design field trips that give students access to Harvard and to learning opportunities that connect content areas to the arts. I will be able to further my skill-set in long-term project planning: brainstorming, budgeting, scheduling trips, delivering professional development, etc. Finally, what I also love, is that I’m able to leave the HGSE bubble three afternoons out of my week. I enjoy the short 20-minute walk across the Charles River to the Harvard Ed Portal. I always look forward to engaging in conversation with other partners at the organization. I get to connect with other HGSE interns that are carrying out important projects that are affecting students in real time. Also, who doesn’t love the extra cash? But more seriously, I believe that a big component towards feeling a sense of belonging at HGSE is related to how you engage with the community. Thanks to my internship, I feel like I’m part of a larger community. I feel like my experience and skills matter and I feel like I am still able to effect change even though I’m a full-time graduate student that is concerned with class, readings, assignments, group discussions, events…and an internship.
Blog written by Maria Alejandra Hernandez. Photos provided by Maria Alejandra Hernandez.
My name is Maria Alejandra Hernandez. I am in the Education Policy and Management Program at HGSE. I was born in Long Beach, California to immigrant parents from Guanajuato, Mexico. My family relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina when I was 11 years old. In North Carolina, I attended Wake Forest University where I double-majored in History and French. Upon completing my undergraduate degree, I moved to Saint-Etienne, France for one year and taught English at a middle school and a high school. After my year in France, I moved again but this time to Dallas, Texas. I committed to Teach for America and stayed beyond my two-year commitment in Dallas public schools. I taught kindergarten through 3rd grade bilingual education and general education for five years. After HGSE, I hope to continue working in the education sector and to eventually open my own non-profit focused on school and parent partnerships. In my free time, my husband and I try to find new places to explore in the Cambridge/Boston area.
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