Week 1
I’ve been working on Pillow Talk With Angela since the Fall, but interviewing never gets much easier. I always feel so awkward when I approach someone new.

Week 2
Procrastination kills. I definitely should have started my interviews the day Angela assigned the topics. It’s a lot harder to get every interview in when you wait until the last minute. Hopefully, this was a lesson learned.

Week 3
It wasn’t a lesson learned. I did it again, but I will admit that interviewing got a little easier. This week, the questions were more intimate. At first, I felt awkward asking a stranger about his sex life, but when the first guy laughed and let me in, I felt better. I also learned that some people have a very hard time answering questions about relationships if they’ve never been in one, but not when answering questions about sex if they’ve never been active. Strange.

Week 4
Sometimes, I feel like I’m not cut out for this role. I can’t shake the feeling that I’m too awkward to be doing this. I definitely make finding interviews much harder than it has to be when I pass up on talking to strangers because I get too nervous. But, even though I get angry at myself when I miss opportunities, I get so excited when I finally do work up the courage to speak to someone. I just have to keep telling myself, it’s not that hard

Week 5
This was the toughest week for me to turn in my work. I was able to get my interviews done in a timely manner, but I was completely stressed the whole time. My honors program research chapter was due, the money for my study abroad trip is due, I’m slacking in a couple of classes. Life is getting pretty hard, but I’m just happy that I got my work done.

Week 6
I’m not so sure that I’ll get all 120 hours in. Getting the interviews wasn’t very hard this week, but when I’m only pulling in an average of 5-6 hours per week, with not much time left…
On the bright side, I met a girl in the iLab today who helped make my other interviewees comfortable. She was painfully open about everything and I think that it urged the others to open up more to me. I didn’t catch her name, but the effect she had on the others was pretty admirable.

Week 7
We’re getting closer to the end! I wonder if Angela and Professor Murdock will keep me over the summer. Although I had difficulties, I really like conducting the interviews for them. Professor Murdock even lets me edit now to help give me more time for my Practicum time sheets. I’ve learned a lot about a lot of people doing this job. It’s funny how much people are willing to divulge when they think they’ll never see you again.

Week 8
“I have a friend who broke up with a woman a year ago but, still really misses her dog.. He never talks about missing her.. just the dog! What’s happening there?”

I’ve never laughed so hard at a series of responses. What do you think? Why doesn’t he miss the girl…or does he?

Week 9
Today marks my last day recording my internship work for Practicum. I still have work to do with Angela and Murdock and I’m really looking forward to continuing over the summer if my position is still available. Months ago, I was so nervous to conduct a street interview for my first time. I remember being so self conscious, thinking that everyone would look at me funny or ignore me. But it wasn’t that bad. Over time, I have met my fair share of nasty individuals who really didn’t want to talk, and some boring subjects who should’ve never agreed to talk to me. But I’ve loved the whole experience. It really brought me out of my shell. I can admit, though, that I still have some ways to go.