Introduction

David worked as a web design intern at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. He designed and developed the original Internship Web Pages. He is currently working on completing design and development of the park brochure web pages.

Why did you want to become an intern?

My goal this summer was to get a job either working with computers, designing web sites, or both. This internship looked like a fun and unique opportunity to expand my skills, in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Which field(s) interest you?

My interests run into many branches of knowledge, including philosophy, theology, physics, computer science, and literature. Philosophy and theology are the two "guiding" principles in my life. Computer science (including web design) and literature (which encompasses more than justbooks, in my opinion) are fun and instructive hobbies. Physics is more of a serious study for me, along with the philosophy behind it. I cannot say which of these interests will turn out to be the dominantone, or whether I will continue to develop in all these areas.

How much time did you commit to your internship?

I committed to twenty-four hours per week, give or take. One advantage to this position is the ability to work from home. I was given the opportunity to work in my free time during the week, instead of coming in on weekends.

Tell us about your college career.

I have currently completed my first year at UCLA, studying physics and philosophy. My physics and math classes were pretty insane, way beyond anything I had ever done or thought about before. I enjoyed philosophy, because it just seems so applicable to all areas of life.

What have you gained from your experience as an intern?

This internship has helped strengthen my skills as a web site designer and maintainer. I have learned to use Fireworks and Dreamweaver MX, with impressive results. This internship has definitely helped me improve my web design capabilities, as well as my ability to work with others.

Do you feel your goals for this internship have been met?

I originally intended to strengthen my skills in database integration and content automation. However, upon starting this internship, I realized that my basic philosophy toward web design need to be reworked. Learning to use Fireworks and Dreamweaver together helped me realize a more important goal: to learn how to make a graphically cohesive web site! While I did not have a chance to work toward my previous goal, I feel that working here has helped me fulfill needs that were just as valid.