Name: Bina Lee
Class Year: 2025
Major: Linguistics and Language, Minor: Russian
Hometown: Tenafly, NJ
Internship Organization: Harriton Association
Internship Title: Summer of Service Intern
Location: Bryn Mawr, PA
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
I am basically an extra hand at Harriton House and every day is different because there are a variety of tasks that can be done. From taking care of farm animals (we have four goats, two sheeps, and eight chickens) to weeding to inventory of donations and research with historical documents and archives but also helping out at the kids' summer camp, I really get an all-round experience with a balance of nature and history and learning.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I'm not going to lie, a main reason I applied was because of the proximity to the farm animals. But of course, I was also intrigued to learn more about the historic house and gain the experience working closely with a museum and learn more about how Harriton operates as a small non-profit.
What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn't expect?
I didn't know just how much I would learn and delve into in terms of history. I've really dug into the archives and files that Harriton has in its possession for different purposes where I not only got to know how board meetings and agendas have changed and shaped Harriton but also about the inhabitants of the house and the restoration process that got Harriton to be what it is today. Reading the documents from various years and being inside the house sparked a newfound interest in me to revisit the Colonial times and American Revolution education I had in my primary and high school years but also I've been struck by how much Harriton House's history is connected to the history of Bryn Mawr and the Lower Merion area.
What is most rewarding about your internship?
I've discovered and have been amazed at the extent to how significant Harriton can be for the greater local communities. It really is a place for people of all ages but most frequently visited and loved by families and children as they visit the farm animals and or the creek and bask in the nature that surrounds the place while also getting an opportunity to visit the historical house and learn about the history behind it. I've been involved in the kids summer camp most recently where they were exposed to colonial games, crafts, and cuisine while also getting regular barn time with the animals and it's really rewarding to know I've been a part of something that they will remember and cherish.
Career & Civic Engagement Center Linguistics and Language Russian