By Stephanie Hepburn
For the Daily
For many, summer break is a time to relax and sit in the sun.
But for ambitious students looking for success in their potential job markets, summer employment ranges from DNA synthesis to serving up cappuccinos, providing them with essential hands-on experience.
Many students are finding that, in addition to the textbook education of the schoolyear, hands-on experience during the summer is critical for development in their fields of interest.
Hands-on experience is available to students in almost any field, ranging from the world of science to the eclectic atmosphere of Ann Arbor coffee shops.
Nursing sophomore Laura Dorman is spending her summer dedicating hours to research genetically obese rats because of her interest in pediatric oncology.
Dorman said she feeds the rats and watches them as they swim in a tub of water in order to "measure the effects of diet and exercise on the body weight and cardiovascular function."
Lia Florey, a research assistant for a plant biology experiment that tests whether the Autumn Olive is an invasive species, said her summer employment is helping her explore future options.
"Many of the people I'm working with were in the School of Natural Resources and know what cool classes are out there. They also know professors and have exposed me to the options out there in the fields of biology.
"It makes you think whether you want to do this for your life," Florey said.
"But it gives you a lot of practical knowledge."
Some student said that aside from actual work experience, summer jobs give them the chance to meet other students on campus.
LSA senior Elena Bonsignore said the experience of working at Espresso Royale Caffe has taught her how to deal with breakdowns in communication.
"Working with people improves your ability to talk to people," Bonsignore said. "Communication is an important skill to have no matter what your're going into."
Bonsignore's fellow worker, LSA senior Heather Bowden, said she will leave for Cortez, Colo. in two weeks to participate in a field-study class at the American Institute of Archeology.
"The field school is where you learn basic archeological techniques," Bowden said. "I'm going to spend 12 hours a day for two weeks working on the (Native American artifact) dig."
At Main Street's Mongolian Barbecue, workers enjoy each other's company so much that after the restaurant closes on some evenings, the workers have open- microphone night and nights when people share their poetry and sing songs.
On other occasions, they have created theme parties, such as a recent Lounge Lizard party, where staff dressed like the lounge lizards of the '60s.
ROB GILMORE/Daily
LSA senior Dan Levine cooks food on an open grill in front of an audience at The Mongolian Barbecue. LSA graduate Breman Grow displays his co-worker's talents.
06-04-97
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