Internship Experience/Moment

I was late. Shit. I thought I had left early enough to have some breathing room, but that
was definitely not the case. After finally figuring out the god-forsaken parking system at UC
Berkeley, I began hastily running around campus trying to find the east side of Doe Library. “Hi!
Could you give me some directions?” I yelled at random passersby, hair astray, out of breath,
looking like a complete lunatic. “Uh yeah, it’s that big white building with the columns,” One of
them responded, “Great, thank you so much!” I yelled behind me, as I had already begun a mad
dash towards the building in question.
And there, standing outside, cool as a cucumber, and wearing a nice jacket (although
unfortunately not tweed like I hoped), was Diliana Angelova.
“Amelia?”
“Yes, Hi! It’ssonicetomeetyou!” I said in what sounded like a single word.
“Same here! How about we start with a tour?”
“Yes, that would be great.”
We took off around campus, and it was pretty quick that I fell in love with UC Berkeley.
The groups studying or eating on the grass, a booth of students trying to get people to join their
conservation club. The energy was palpable, you could feel it in the air, and I couldn’t wait to
study at a place just like this in the coming years.
Professor Angelova described the different artistic influences behind each building, how
the campus was made of a smorgasbord of movements and time periods.
Most of my work since then has consisted of sitting in a computer lab, or running off
doing menial tasks, but I will never forget the first time I ever stepped onto campus, my
excitement (and yes my panic), and getting to learn about the history of each building, because
that’s when I realized that being a professor would be pretty damn cool.
Three-Week Reflection:
What happened that made you feel you would (or would not) like to do this sort of thing
as a career?

When I was collecting library books in Professor Angelova’s office, I remember that I
picked up a book with her name on it. I knew from my research that she had published a book, so
I asked, “Is this your book?” expecting an answer similar to “yes” or “yeah” or maybe even a
distracted “Mmhmm,” but instead I got, “Oh no, that’s my thesis.”
I was a little shocked, I mean the thing was huge. I thought about writing one of those,
not for pay either, just to get a degree, and that definitely left me questioning whether I would be
able to get a PhD. I like to write, but not that much.
On the other hand, I think it would actually be kind of cool to be the expert in a specific
topic. I also love doing research, and a thesis is just one very very long research paper.
Also, after getting to see professor Angelova’s lifestyle over the past few weeks, how she
gets to roll into work when she wants, prep and teach a class, go to a few meetings, and then
head out, seems like a dream. Not to say she doesn’t work hard, but her hours are very flexible,
which I think everyone wants in a job. She has also traveled the world to get photos for her
collection, and got exclusive access to works that the public wouldn’t be able to see, so if I got to
do that for the rest of my life, I’ll happily write a book-sized thesis.

Professional Skills:

Basic Skills: Reading

One of the basic skills required for being a professor, of probably any subject but
particularly art history, is the ability to read and write. While organizing her office, she had
hundreds of books on niche topics in the field, and it seemed like she had read most of them!
There were also stacks upon stacks of annotated printouts of chapters in those books, so many in
fact that it took me over an hour to organize them.

Thinking Skills: Analyzes art

At the level of art history that Professor Angelova works at, it becomes highly analytical.
The technical terms used in art history are more complicated in my opinion than advanced
terminology in subjects like economics, which are infamous for their inaccessibility for most
people. She can also look at a piece of medieval art (I’m sure most art, but this is from what I’ve
seen) and immediately decipher the meaning behind the iconography, where it was made, when it
was made, and sometimes, which specific artistic workshop produced it.

Personal Qualities: Dedicated

Professor Angleova is incredibly dedicated to her field of study. She has worked on the
project I have been helping on for almost 20 years! When she started, her plan was to put her
research into a book, because that was the only way to widely show her work, but over the
course of the project she transitioned into putting everything on a website, because in that time
making websites were literally invented! (Ok maybe not invented, but at least widely accessible
-- you know what I mean) I also already touched on her thesis and book, which took the
dedication of years.

Five competencies:
1.) Technology: I have mostly been working on a website, and using photoshop to color
grade different images.
2.) Time Management: While working I often have a lot of tasks on my plate at once.
Whether it be running errands or working on the website, I have to manage my time
wisely.
3.) Interpersonal: I have co-interns, who I have been working with. I also received training
for the head technician in the department.
4.) Helpfulness: I have to always be ready on a moment's notice to help out with anything
Professor Angelova needs, and I also regularly check-in with her to see if she wants me
to do anything. (Think Devil Wears Prada, but without the cute outfits)
5.) Orientation: Going to Berkeley was a big change for me. I’m unfamiliar with the area and
have travelled by myself. Over the last few weeks I’ve become very familiar with
campus, which has been great!