So long, farewell!

To commemorate my final week in the Bay Area, I thought it would be fitting to visit one of San Francisco’s most famous (and haunted) landmarks: Alcatraz! Siting in the middle of San Francisco Bay, surrounded by frigid, tumultuous waters, Alcatraz Island was once home to one of America’s highest security federal prisons that held the nation’s most notorious criminals. While I didn’t see any ghosts during my time on Alcatraz Island (also called “the Rock”), the tour of the prison was compelling and spooky. Plus, the ferry ride across the Bay offered some great views of the SF skyline!

In addition to my little Alcatraz excursion, over the past week I attended a few concerts at Music@Menlo, a chamber music series in Atherton, CA. Like Music at Kohl Mansion, Music@Menlo hosts chamber ensembles from around the world and attracts patrons from across the Bay Area. However, while Music at Kohl Mansion’s season lasts from October through May, Music@Menlo’s main series takes place during the summer months. Since I haven’t been able to hear a performance at Music at Kohl, going to a Music@Menlo event was a great way for me to attend a performance that would be similar to one at Music at Kohl.

As I sit here at my desk on my last day at the Kohl Mansion, I can’t help but think about the plethora of insightful and eyeopening experiences that I have had in the last 10 weeks I have been out here. From spearheading a social media campaign to singing for the MAKM Board of Directors, my summer internship has been incredibly unique and highly personalized. Not only has my work taught me the ins and outs of PR and marketing for an arts nonprofit, but it has reinforced my love of music and broadened my understanding of the impact that music has upon the lives of people from across all ages and demographics.

I have also gained a new perspective as to what life is like on the West Coast! I would have never been able to take advantage of so many remarkable adventures had I just stayed in Massachusetts this summer. I am overjoyed that I decided to make the courageous move to live and work in an unknown place, which I have come to love.

I would like to thank the Holy Cross Summer Internship Program, my host family and parents, my Music at Kohl Mansion supervisor, coworkers, and all of the MAKM board members who helped make this summer possible for me. Going forward, I am confident that this internship will have been an essential building block for my future career.

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