Interview with Casey Lebo

How come you chose to do an internship?

I felt that this would be a fun and educational experience, and I thought that the project itself was interesting!

What have you been working on during your internship? Please describe specific tasks and responsibilities.

I worked on translating French fashion magazines to find mentions of foreign goods, styles, materials, etc., in an effort to see how fashion was spread, shared, or changed globally. I worked on making a spreadsheet that documented these various styles, fabrics, and countries related to popular contemporary fashions to see if there was a trend in material, style, or country of origin related popularity.

What has been the most fun and interesting part?

It was really fun to read the 19th century magazine articles, both related to fashion or not, to see what was being talked about in popular culture. I also enjoyed working with the other interns and getting to talk more with the professors!

What has been the most challenging aspect?

There were not many challenges - thankfully - but perhaps time was the biggest issue. Trying to create our own due dates and stick to our schedule was a little difficult at times, but we made it work!

What were your expectations before you started your internship?

I expected to be on my own, doing quite a lot of solitary work, so I was happy to share a room with other students.

Was there anything you hoped for or feared that did not happen?

Not that I can remember, I felt that the project and the expectations of us were clearly communicated, so nothing came as a surprise.

Was there anything that exceeded your expectations?

Definitely getting to collaborate with other students doing their internships because we were able to use our different approaches to formulate new research strategies and get second opinions.

What have you learned during your internship?

I learned that I really enjoy doing research, especially in a long-term setting. At the end of the internship I was just as excited and interested by the content and the research as I was in the beginning. In fact, I would have been happy to keep going!

Has the internship influenced your perspective on possible career paths in regards to academia? If so, how?

Absolutely! I had always imagined that I would enjoy a career in academia, especially one that had a focus on research and writing, and this internship really solidified that. I enjoyed my work throughout the entire internship and would be happy to do something similar again.

What would you say to someone considering applying for an internship at one of the research projects at the Department of History, or elsewhere?

Do it! Whether the internship is something closely related to your future career plans or something unrelated, the work that you do will help you see what types of tasks that you enjoy doing, ones that you dislike, and what type of work environment could work best for you. It's a fun way to learn not only about the internship's main focus, but about yourself!