This is a series of spotlights on our NJVVMF interns. These students have dedicated their time to learn about our mission, work, and Veterans in order to gain first-hand experience within the Foundation.
We are always looking to support interested students in any way we can at the NJVVMF. If you know of a high school senior or college student who is interested in interning with them people reach out to our Museum Educator, Keri A. Giannotti at kgiannotti@njvvmf.org
Interview with NJVVMF Intern Rachel Ney
Why were you interested in interning with the NJVVMF?
I was initially interested in interning with the NJVVMF because I am a rising sophomore at Temple University studying Event Management. I really wanted to be a part of the many projects that the NJVVMF hosts, including the upcoming 27th Annual Golf Tournament.
What is the most exciting project you have worked on so far?
The most exciting project that I have worked on so far would be hand-writing birthday cards to all of the NJVVMF volunteers. It was a very fulfilling and enjoyable task because I can imagine the joy the cards will bring when the volunteers receive them in the mail on their birthdays.
How has this internship helped shape your career path?
This internship has taught me a lot about the professional world and working in an office as a team-member. I am able to use my experience and time spent with the NJVVMF in my resume to find a successful career that I enjoy after college.
What is your favorite part of the internship?
Although I mainly work in the Foundation’s office, my favorite part of the internship would be learning about the veterans’ experiences during the Vietnam War and the parts of its history that not a lot of people know about.
How has interning with the NJVVMF changed your perception of the Vietnam War and Vietnam Era?
I think that when a lot of people my age think about the Vietnam War, they see it as an event that happened a very, very long time ago during a state of the world that no longer exists. Interning with the NJVVMF has taught me that the effects of the Vietnam War are still very much prominent in today’s society and in the veterans’ lives and in their families’ lives.