Cobram Secondary College student Emily French recently spent a week doing her dream job, working in the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.
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Some youngsters dream of playing for their favourite footy team, or starring in a Hollywood blockbuster.
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For Cobram Secondary College student Emily French, that dream is to become a museum curator, and she recently had that opportunity.
She landed her dream work experience, being offered an opportunity to work at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra for a week.
During her time at the museum, Emily got to work in a variety of roles including on the Discovering Ancient Egypt exhibition.
During the week she penned a diary of her experience:
Monday
First of all I got my uniform, which ended up being a lot more than I thought. I also had my own locker to put my stuff in, honestly didn’t expect that. Then I got a tour around the museum. It’s massive, even with one section cut off for construction. I also got to go into the Ancient Egypt exhibit for free, which was awesome. I saw an actual mummified body. Next I got ‘buddied’ with different people all day, and I went wherever they did. Before day one ended, I'd been in VR, the discovery centre, and just around the place. Everyone already seemed to know who I was, which was actually kind of strange. Before I was introduced, I’d hear ‘You must be Emily’. I met too many people for my brain to handle on Monday. A highlight was that there was a really cool First Nations exhibit with a replica hut and stuff from the Stolen Generations.
Tuesday
I started the day off scanning tickets at the door to the Egypt exhibit, which was fun because I got to actually use the scanner. But otherwise, was basically the same as Monday. Except I did get to join along when a tour was going on, and I followed that around. I met another new person. Again, there were way too many to remember. I was in VR for about an hour, so I got to watch the film that was going on. It was about the Antarctic. I also had to reassure a kid who had accidentally set off a sensor that he hadn't done anything wrong because he was so upset by it and constantly apologising. Then, at the end of the day, I was in the Great Southern Land gallery. In there is an interactive exhibit that you’re able to put a ‘special place’ on. So my buddy told me to put the school. Which I did, getting some free PR for the school.
Cobram's Emily French loved her time doing work experience in Canberra
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Wednesday
This was basically the same as the two days beforehand. I was with one of the same people from the day before, and two new people. I got to hit the play button for the VR, so that was fun. The last person I was buddied with was an Aboriginal man and while we were sitting at the ticketing desk he told me some of the Dreamtime stories from his people, which was cool. One was about why bats sit upside down, it was both interesting and kind of physical, for a Dreamtime story.
Thursday
Emily French had a variety of roles in her time doing work experience at the National Museum of Australia.
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I was with the education team on Thursday, doing tours with schools. I also helped with some scheduling tasks. Another lady also asked me some questions about the school. I might have answered them incorrectly, but it was interesting. At one point I was participating in a little activity they had, which was decorating a fake skateboard, which was fun. I didn't get to finish it though, as I ran out of time.
Friday
I was back with the host team today. This was definitely my favourite out of the two teams I was in. They are all so nice. I did the usual stuff and got to go in the Egypt exhibit again. There was a guy recording the mummies, so I had to go get my buddy to confront him because I was scared. Otherwise, it was basically the same as always. I returned everything at the end of the day as the week of work experience came to an end.
It was amazing that a student was given this opportunity. Thank you to everyone who made it possible.
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