Internship with San Diego Floral Design
Let me introduce myself, my name is Ximena. I am a senior at High Tech High International. HTHI is a project based learning school, these PBL schools focus on preparing the student for the "real world". By doing so they create the opportunity to have their students do an internship. The takeaway excepted from such experience is to become familiar in a professional work field, and obtain work skills. Before graduating the curriculum of a High Tech High school is for the students to have two internships done. The first internship I did in 10th grade was with a fifth grade teacher, and now for senior year I have decided and have been granted the opportunity to do an internship with Fatima Kelly. My hopes for what I learn in this internship is to learn more about another type of work field such as the community of floral design. I began this internship during one of the busiest flower holidays, which is Mother's Day. Let me tell you... Mother's Day was CRAZY. Yes, crazy in all caps lock. Coming into pre- Mother's Day there were already orders being placed and flower deliveries being planned. You never really imagine how stressful floral design can be, but once you're the one there during such a busy holiday you don't really know. When you think of flowers you don't really think of it as being messy, but that's where you're wrong. The days before Mother's Day I don't think there was ever a time where I wasn't stepping on leafs and or flower stems. Working as a hostess in a restaurant I am used to chaotic nights such as those busy summer nights in Little Italy. But to my surprising Floral Design is just, or maybe even more chaotic than restaurant hostessing. I would have never figured that I would ever say that working in a flower shop is dirty and stinky.
So far I have created some succulent vases, and some flower bouquets that were ordered through the designs of the San Diego Floral Design website. I am really enjoying work and learning all about floral design with the guidance and help of my mentor Fatima. It has been very interesting to learn how different and busy owning your own floral shop can be. And even crazier when it is only Fatima, the floral designer herself and her husband Matthew the only two people who work and run the business. It's amazing to see how both Fatima and her husband are dedicated and very willing to go out of their way in order to meet their costumers needs and expectations. Along with learning about floral design, I have also learned more about starting your own business from the bottom up.
I can't wait to see and learn even more of such an amazing business such as, San Diego Floral Design.
--
It's me again, Ximena the Intern! It's been a long month interning at San Diego Floral Design. It has been filled with the realizations of how crazy having your own floral shop is. It's not easy is an understatement. It is more than the pretty flowers that sit in a clear vase. What goes behind the scenes of creating that vase arrangement is more than putting random flowers in a vase. Interning at San Diego Floral Design has been a privilege, I've enjoyed every second of my time here. I've learned so much of what it actually means to own your own business. The fundamentals I have learned have been, . dedication and patience. Emphasize the word patience, Working alongside Fatima has taught me so much more than Floral Design., she has taught me how to be patient with costumers than are a little bit more difficult to work with. I cannot wait to apply everything I have learned here to the next chapter of my life which will be going into UCSC.
I really want to thank Fatima and her husband Matt for allowing me to be a part of their team, and trusting me enough to intern in their business. I will truly miss working alongside Fatima, she has taught me so much more than floral design she has taught me how to me an efficient individual overall, which I will forever be grateful. I cannot wait to see their business flourish even more, And may her and her husband never be too flowered out, as Fatima would say.
Sincerely,
Ximena Velasco
