Matthew Robinson has always loved films and photography, so he was ecstatic to get a paid internship through MiraCosta College to create the videos and photos that he loves.
Robinson said he initially took the internship because he needed the $20 an hour that it paid, but his greatest joy is working in the field.
“I’m constantly creating, whether it’s photography or videos,” he said.
A 90-second video he created won first place and a $10,000 prize in a contest seeking ideas from community college students on how their education could be transformed. More than 120 students had submitted entries in the contest sponsored by the University of Southern California Race and Equity Center.
Robinson’s internship is through MiraCosta College’s Learning Aligned Employment Program (LAEP), which provides students with internships related to their area of study or career exploration. In his internship, Robinson has been working with MiraCosta College Sociology Professor Edwina Williams.
“She is teaching me things I will implement later in my career,” he said. “I’ve been working with her for so long that I’ve gotten to know her as a human being. Hearing her stories is so strong that when I’m in a rut, I know that if she can, I can do it.”
Before he started at MiraCosta College in Fall 2021, Robinson had been working at a $15 an hour job at Allied University. He had to give up that job when he got sick during the COVID-19 pandemic, so the internship working almost 20 hours a week gave him an income.
“To get a check every month is really great,” he said.
His work has included taking headshots of students during Black Student Success Week and putting together a digital time capsule in which children were asked where they saw themselves in the future.
Robinson said he has learned skills such as using digital graphic design tools, but his larger lessons have been within himself.
“I’ve learned about being thorough and being consistent,” he said. “You can get something great, but don’t overwhelm yourself with your expectations.”
Robinson hopes to enter the film industry when he graduates from MiraCosta College in Fall 2024 with an associate degree in film. He would like to work on commercials, short films, or special effects.
His advice to others considering an internship? “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Just go ahead and apply yourself. Don’t overthink it. Just go ahead and do it because you might enjoy it.”
