What I’ve Learned From My Internship at Cold Nose Lodge
Four years ago, I started my first job at Cold Nose Lodge. I always had a soft spot for dogs and figured this would be the perfect job for me. Through the years I’ve learned more than I could’ve ever imagined. I’ve completed two dog training courses (Knowing Dogs 101 & 102), became Pet CPR Certified, and have a much better understanding of dog play styles and behavior. In addition to working at CNL, I was able to do my Marketing /Management internship through them as well!
Sometimes I feel like my job is split into two separate parts: Everyday Employee and Future Business Woman. At first, it was hard to find a common ground between the two, as the internship has brought on some challenges that I haven’t faced in my work experience before, but I quickly found out that I love both sides!
My favorite part of working at Cold Nose is spending time in the large dog playroom. I love getting to know the dogs and their different personalities. Having been an employee here for four years, I’ve watched a few of them grow up from rambunctious puppies to mellow adults. I’ve seen some of them get new four-legged siblings and had the opportunity to see those siblings grow as well – it’s all very rewarding! Giving baths and taking the dogs for walks around town are some of my other favorite duties. Having one-on-one time with them is such a different experience from being in the room with them, and I enjoy every second of it!
The internship has taken me on a completely different journey. I’ve seen more of the behind -the- scenes stuff than I ever had before, and I’ve had the opportunity to learn about all the little details that make Cold Nose Lodge thrive. My favorite part thus far has been the marketing meetings. These meetings are responsible for me creating my first marketing calendar for the Lodge, has gifted me with a wide array of business knowledge that can only be learned first-hand, and is the reason for me writing this blog post right now – all things I never would’ve been able to experience without this internship!
Four years ago, I walked into Cold Nose Lodge thinking this would simply just be a job to pay the bills throughout college. Now I realize that no matter where life takes me, I’ll always be thankful to Cold Nose for giving me the knowledge and experience that I’ll carry with me throughout life’s adventures.
Some things I’ve learned since the start of my internship:
1. Time flies, so make sure you’re doing something you enjoy.
2. Never be afraid to ask for help.
3. Learning new things can be stressful, but the opportunity is something to be thankful for.
4. Don’t limit yourself to your comfort zone. There’s a lot of learning and growth to be done outside of it.
-Emily C.