Internships: A Taste of the Working World

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Samantha Jordan

“I have seen dead bodies, smelled them, and cut up their organs.  I’ve taken pictures of them in their positions at death; I’ve slept near them, and I’ve transported them to the morgue for their last doctor’s appointment,” said Justice Systems major Samantha Jordan.  These experiences were all part of her internship at the Will County Coroner's Office in Joliet, Illinois.  She spent her summer working with the Deputy Coroners: working autopsies, examining organs, attending inquests, surveying crimes and taking photographs.  This is her account of her experience:

 “First of all, when I arrived at the Coroner’s office, I already had some knowledge of what to expect.   I had taken Forensic Science and Scientific Investigation, which were key moves in mastering this internship.  The material I had learned aided me when discussing cases and inquests with the employees.  It also boosted my self-esteem since I was able to understand what they were talking about, and not get lost in the conversation.  I believe it also made the employees feel more comfortable, since they knew they did not have to explain certain concepts to me.

 Working with the coroner has and will definitely continue to contribute to my education in the future.  I learned not only about their procedure, but also about life itself.  I learned so many things from the autopsies.  I have decided to start exercising and eating right, because I saw so many overweight people on the table.  The fat in their bodies put one on the track to wellness.  I also learned that one should be wary of abusing substances that are being used today such as Ecstasy, Oxycontin, or MDMA.

 This internship helped in another way, too. I really had no idea what I wanted to do after graduating from school.  My purpose wasn’t to do this to see if I wanted to become a coroner, but I wanted to get out there and see what would interest me.  Not only am I interested in doing what a coroner does, but I also may look into becoming a forensic pathologist.  This internship succeeded in helping me explore my options.  I had no idea a forensic pathologist existed, and it helped me realize that there are thousands, probably millions, of jobs out there that I never knew existed.

 This experience has validated my college education and I am so glad I was approved to be in this program.  I have learned more about myself this summer than I ever could have working at McDonald’s or some clothing shop.  I learned a lot about being a coroner, as well as the human body. I’m really thankful I experienced this, but it saddens me to an extent.  Now I have to go back to school, where I will only be able to learn something by reading about it.  If there was one thing I could gather from this whole experience, it’s that you can only really learn by doing.  This summer I did it all, and had so much fun while doing it that it shouldn’t even be considered education. My summer of death has breathed nothing but life into my goals and me for the future, and I can only hope that everyone else’s summer was as fun as mine.”