25 Jul My Unforgettable Summer

This summer has been a new chapter that opened the opportunity for many experiences. Despite working at Mount Rushmore, I got the opportunity to visit 7 National Parks and Monuments like Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Badlands National Park, Devils Tower National Monument, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Grand Teton National Park. I am very happy that I got the opportunity to explore the outdoors a bit more. Even being an intern gave me friendships of a lifetime not only with them but also with park staff. It has been an interesting ride getting back into photography and learning a lot about public affairs and communications. This helped me learn a lot about the importance of media and how we can share one voice or many and it creates a huge change for viewers either to educate them or teach them. Working with the Culture Bearers helped me gain knowledge of indigenous culture and the importance of what their traditions are like. I also learned a little bit of their language and grew to understand some of it. Not only did I learn from them, but they also became friends with me and I appreciated the contribution and knowledge they shared with me this summer. Working at Mount Rushmore has allowed me to advocate for visitors who do not speak English. I have had the privilege of translating and teaching visitors about the history of Mount Rushmore. This experience has highlighted the importance of being bilingual, and I am delighted to serve those who only speak Spanish. It is crucial to ensure that visitors with limited language proficiency have a worthwhile experience, and it is rewarding to know you made a positive impact on the visitors. I had the privilege of working with the museum curator and taking part in tasks such as inventorying Mount Rushmore collections. During my time there, I had the opportunity to view numerous archives, photographs, and collectibles. The curator was so supportive of my ambitions to become a museum curator. She taught me a lot of important information for museum work and I’m very excited to implement it in school. I feel thankful to have had the opportunity to witness the remarkable artifacts that form part of Mount Rushmore’s collection. Being from a small city like El Paso helped me grow and appreciate how big the world is and the importance of connecting with the outdoors. I am happy I got to work with everyone I crossed paths with because it showed me the importance of living and how unexpected life throws things in our way.