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Home › Think Up

Think Up! | 07/21/2009 12:00 pm

I'm on AARP ... For Being an Intern

By Ann Hodgman

I’m on AARP talking about my latest career move: intern.

As you look at my photograph, you must be thinking to yourself that I don’t look like I just graduated from college and needed the experience. You’re right about the first part (I’m 52 years old) but absolutely wrong about the second. Just like many working women and men from my generation, I lack certain technical and Internet skills that people half my age innately know because they were raised around it. So, after 25 years as a freelance writer and author, I started my internship at wowOwow.com. Click here watch a video to see how it’s going thus far …

Don’t just sit there … Think Up!

 

Read more about: AARP, Ann Hodgman, Economy, internship, Money, Think Up

11 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Patty E
Welcome!
By Patty E on 07/21/2009 2:48 pm
Chris Broersma
Great!!!
By Chris Broersma on 07/21/2009 6:06 pm
Chris Broersma

Ann,

Saw your video and I know that you can do it!  Just set boundaries on the time you spend online.  I am a writer too and find that Twitter is great for sometimes simply expressing the basics to friends.  You don’t ge overwhelmed if you control the time you spend there.

By Chris Broersma on 07/21/2009 6:16 pm
Livia Jones
Good luck to you! Don’t overestimate the skills of younger people though. I’m 52 and took a night class in web site development recently. There were a couple of recent high school grads in the class. They were clearly bored, rolling their eyes, insisting they knew all this stuff, and letting us all know that they had "built web sites" in high school. They must have had a lot of help with those high school web sites. It did not take long for them to see that they didn’t know it all after all. We all have things to learn, regardless of our age. 
By Livia Jones on 07/21/2009 7:28 pm
Andrea Brandon
Age and wisdom trumps beauty ANY day of the week.
By Andrea Brandon on 07/21/2009 10:36 pm
KatyDid Wells

Great video, Ann.  Kudos for constantly challenging yourself and recognizing what works for you. 

I’m in my late 40’s and trying to reinvent myself as well.  I have the computer skills because I’d been in an office environment at the time technology became king, but what I’m working to achieve at this point is what you already have - the contacts and confidence to free-lance with my writing and photography. 

In your video, you addressed the statement "why would you admit that you’re not working". When I tell people that I’m not working right now, I get mixed reactions and I always feel the need to explain further - I’m taking time off, I have a few irons in the fire… The truth of the matter is we could use the money, but after many years in a stressful work environment, I want to do something challenging, rewarding, and enjoyable for a change.  We live in a rural setting and working from home is what works best for me right now, but I’m not the best at networking and I can procrastinate with the best of them. 

My fear is that I won’t get my act together and end up having to take another job that drains the life out of me, but for now I’m resisting, standing firm, and trying to work towards what is right for me.

I wish you all the luck in reaching your goals!

 

By KatyDid Wells on 07/22/2009 1:15 pm
Dab-a- do
KatyDid, good luck to you….I haven’t been on WOW for months so I’m not sure but I think I recognize you… and your writing style seems to convey a more relaxed happier person. Hope this respite helps you reach your goals!
By Dab-a- do on 07/23/2009 6:40 am
KatyDid Wells

As do I, Dab-a-do, As do I… :-)

Thanks for your support!

By KatyDid Wells on 07/23/2009 11:26 am
Dab-a- do
Ann, best wishes for reaching your goals at WOW….loved the video and the pets’ baths.  I do hope that we won’t see the end of books as we know them…the smell and feel of a new book, what a pleasure!
By Dab-a- do on 07/23/2009 6:51 am
James the Game
You have our best wishes.
By James the Game on 07/23/2009 9:26 pm
Interns Over 40
Adults bring a lot to the table, at any age. Never underestimate what years of grey hairs or life has brought you. Besides, technical skills can be learned from those who grew up on the internet.
By Interns Over 40 on 07/30/2009 1:16 pm