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longwoodstudents · 6 years

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Student Spotlight: Kaitlyn Coleman, Guest Engagement Intern

Hello! My name is Kaitlyn Coleman and I am the year-long Guest Engagement Intern here at Longwood Gardens. I am from Williamstown, Pennsylvania and started here in August 2017 after graduating from Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, PA, with a dual degree in Public History and English and a minor in Public Relations. During my job- search process, I started-out by applying to conventional history jobs, but then decided to think outside-the-box about how to apply my skills and recalled time spent on Longwood’s website while researching a project for an Event Planning course. Sure enough, when I searched jobs at Longwood, I found this wonderful internship opportunity and the rest is history! I just started my last month here at Longwood (has it really been that long?!) and am very excited to see where the skills and experience that I gained here take me next!

My office is on the very top floor of the Peirce-du Pont House. Though the steps can get tiring on busy days, I couldn’t ask for a more beautiful place to call home this year.

What is your favorite plant?

I don’t have a horticulture background and knew very little about it before starting this program, but I’ve always had an appreciation for beautiful and interesting plants. My tastes in plants tend to vary widely, depending on the season and what is in bloom, and, here at Longwood, there is always something in bloom! I hold a particular affinity for the waterlilies and other aquatic plants on display throughout the summer and fall, because there’s just something about the interplay between the plant and the reflections and ripples of the pools that tugs on my heart strings. The mosaic plant (Ludwigia sedioides), in particular, draws my attention because it looks like an aquatic succulent in shape.

I also love all manner of purple plants, such as the zebra spiderwort (Tradescantia zebrina). The first plant I adopted when I moved to the Row was a tradescantia named Lafayette, who lives on our bathroom windowsill, and I’ve since started two other plants from his cuttings.

Mosiac plant (Ludwigia sedioides)

What is your favorite Garden? What is your favorite part of Longwood?

Truth be told, before Longwood, I had not visited many public gardens. Since joining the program, though, I’ve had so many wonderful opportunities to explore America’s Garden Capital and marvel at the variety of the plant world. Chanticleer Garden, in particular, stole my heart with its whimsical, naturalistic design.

I also love to visit natural places with beautiful plants, such as national parks and forests. Some of my absolute favorites were encountering the ethereal worlds of New Zealand’s Waipoua Forest, with its towering kauri trees and the light trickling through fern fronds, and Tongariro National Park, with its harsh, volcanic landscape and low-growing alpine plants.

At Longwood, I feel like there is always a new place to love and I adore different parts of the garden for different reasons. The wall of air plants and trickling water of the Cascade Garden stood-out during my first visit to Longwood, as did the spectacular performances of the Main Fountain Garden, but I think my favorite part of Longwood would have to be the Meadow Garden. It is a different experience every day of the year and I’ve loved watching it change from season to season.

As we enter late summer, the Meadow Garden is coming into its full splendor.

What is the best part of being a student?

All students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of enrichment activities throughout their program and these experiences include some of my favorite things I’ve done over these past 11 months. From hands-on activities right here at Longwood, to trips as far-reaching as Washington, DC and the New York Botanical Garden. Through these activities, I’ve had the opportunity to see and do much more than I ever would have on my own and, for that, I’ve very grateful.

I also can’t say enough about my co-workers and how great it is to feel valued and appreciated for my contributions to the team. They often go out of their way to make my experience even better, because they genuinely care about my learning, growth, and future career. Also, I love to be busy and there’s always something going-on in the Guest Engagement department!

In April, we visited the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washinton, DC. While there, my roommate and I visited the Sakura Yumi (Cherry Blossom Dream) exhibition at Artechouse, an interactive gallery space that features digital artists.

What is your background in horticulture (or whatever field you are in)?

Before Longwood, I had no experience working in horticulture. As a student of three different departments, I found myself deeply enthralled in public humanities. This allowed me to curate a varied, yet intertwined skillset, including writing in a variety of genres, completing valuable research, designing both traditional and digital content, event planning, and combing these skills to present content effectively to multi-generational audiences.

Additionally, I’ve pursued work experience as an Intern at the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office, a Graphics Tech for Messiah’s campus ministries department, a Resident and Teaching Assistant for the Young Writer’s Workshop, and a Fellow for Messiah’s Center for Public Humanities. My favorite pre-Longwood project was the local history exhibit I planned, designed, curated, edited, and implemented for the Center for Public Humanities’ annual Humanities Symposium. I believe learning how to research, curate, write, and edit content for the public and to multi-task effectively have been my most important take-aways from these positions, as they’ve directly connected to my current role.

Why did you want to come to Longwood and what do you think helped you get the position?

I knew very little about Longwood before applying, but as I researched the garden and interviewed with staff members, it became clear how special a place it truly is. Everyone radiated love for their workplace and that sincerity stood out to me. Although I don’t have a horticulture background, I have both professional and academic experience in writing, public history, research, design, and public relations, which gives me a varied skillset well-suited to the role of Guest Engagement Intern.

I absolutely love the Main Fountain Garden and will definitely be returning for future shows!

What do you do at work? Highlight your favorite project or what you do day-to-day.

My job varies week-to-week and day-to-day, depending on the projects we are working on in the Guest Engagement office and what is required of me to support the function of the department. As the Guest Engagement Intern, I’ve had the opportunity to create and implement engaging interpretive programming for diverse, multi-generational audiences. This includes assisting in the management of 400 guest engagement volunteers, designing interpretive materials, writing curriculum, and planning large-scale public programming. I’ve loved working independently and as a member of a team in an environment focused on connecting guests to horticulture, history, and the arts.

Not only have I met my goals for improving my communication skills, I’ve also found that when others wither, I thrive in a fast-paced environment. I strive to approach each day as an opportunity to learn something new and to make someone’s day special. This is likely why my favorite projects involve planning and implementing special events. I also love creating new curriculum and activities for the Children’s Garden. I’m in the business of storytelling and memory-making, so I’ve shaped my efforts throughout this internship to foster opportunities for learning and connection. Every day is something new in Guest Engagement and I’ve strived to embrace the challenges that come my way.

Some of my favorite days on-the-job were when I coordinated our OrKID Day events.

What are your future plans or what is your intended career path?

I still hope to build a career in public history, preferably in a museum or historic site setting, but my time here at Longwood has also won me over to the world of public gardens. My skills are well-suited to both, so I’ve applied and interviewed for jobs in both fields and will be happy to pursue either result. Wherever life takes me next, I know that my time here has taught me so much and prepared me for the challenges ahead. Plus, how many people can say they’ve worked in a place as beautiful as Longwood?

One of my favorite things I’ve done this year was taking the Floral Design I Continuing Education class. Over the course of 6 weeks, I learned the basics of floral design and had the opportunity to make my own creations, including this centerpiece (L) and market bouquet arrangement (R).

Article and Photos by Kaitlyn Colema

#Longwood Gardens #student profile #student intern #internship #Kennett Square #Public Garden #botanic garden #pennsylvania #greater philadelphia #Guest Services

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