Looking to ‘connect with people,’ Kim joins FWKCC as new intern
“The Chamber is thrilled to be able to once again continue our partnership with Farragut High School in the spirit of workforce development by having their senior students serve as interns with us,” FWKCC president/CEO Julie Blaylock said. “Emma was clearly excited about the opportunity to work with us from the first time we spoke with her, and we’re hopeful that this role will give her a preview into the working world within the community and business.
“She’s already gotten to attend several of our events/programs, meet the mayor and is getting to know our members, and we’re proud of the progress she has made thus far,” Blaylock added.
“It’s been really great,” said Kim, an FHS senior. “I’ve met a lot of wonderful people and they’ve all been really welcoming to me.”
She said she heard about the internship from Allison Maldonado, FHS world languages teacher and sponsor of the Baking Club.
“It was one day after a (club) meeting,” recalled Kim, daughter of Soyoung Lee. “We were talking about my schedule … and that’s when she mentioned that she knew of an internship that I could take at the Chamber.
This is Kim’s first experience in a job setting.
“(Maldonado) told me it was a good way to get some experience in talking with people, connecting with people and that’s what I, kind of, want to go into,” the senior said.
Kim is considering a career in social work but hasn’t made a firm decision. However, she would like to attend a college in California. At FHS, she is focusing on humanities and English.
Kim said her mother also is excited about her interning at the Chamber.
“When I told her about this (internship), she was, like, ‘Oh, you should definitely do it. You should go in and talk to (Blaylock) as soon as you can,’” Kim recalled. At the Chamber, she is learning how to work with the database, a lot of organizing tasks and data management.
“I’ve been practicing picking up phone calls, which I’m getting better at, but not quite there yet,” Kim confided.
Still, she sees the experience as helpful.
“I think it’s kind of pushed me out of my comfort zone in terms of talking to new people, especially adults, in a professional setting,” she said. “It’s also helping me with time management, which I’ve kind of struggled with a little bit.”
