2023 Rose Hill Intern
By Alice Russo, Intern
My name is Alice Russo, and I am so excited to introduce myself as the new Rose Hill intern for the summer. Currently, I am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in history at the University at Albany, where I am fortunate to be a part of their honors history department. My dream is to become a high school history teacher or a college history professor. My fascination with American history, particularly political and economic history, has led me to Rose Hill whose contribution to the American economy in the 19th century was significant.
I am from a small town located south of Rochester, so I’ve got quite the commute, but the experiences and knowledge I’ve learned while at Rose Hill makes the drive completely worth it.
Alice Russo on the front porch of Rose Hill Mansion
As an intern, I have been granted the unique opportunity to immerse myself in the history of Rose Hill Mansion and the captivating city of Geneva. Despite spending most of my childhood visiting family in the area, I was unaware of the mansion’s profound significance in American history, particularly its role in shaping American agriculture. Each day at Rose Hill brings me new discoveries to learn, allowing me to explore the extensive history of the Finger Lakes Region. My dad grew up on a large farm in Varick on Cayuga Lake and would find fragments of clay drainage tiles. He never knew what they were or the significance of those tiles until I started my internship at Rose Hill and learned about Robert Swan and John Johnston.
During my internship, I’ve been helping with various projects around the mansion. One of my major projects involved updating the museum’s accessibility binders, which is essential to ensure all visitors can partake in learning the mansion’s history. Another project I’ve been working on is leading tours of the mansion. Guiding groups of people throughout the house is the perfect opportunity for me to practice my public speaking and teaching skills, bringing me one step closer to fulfilling my educational goals.
Overall, I have had such an amazing time at Rose Hill. This internship has been such an incredible and unique experience and I highly recommend it to any high school or college age student who has a passion for history and a desire to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others. Thank you Rose Hill for such an unforgettable experience and helping me reach my dreams in life.
I’m so glad you took advantage of the opportunity to intern at Rose Hill this summer. It was a pleasure working with you and I’m thrilled to hear you enjoyed the experience. I hope the fact you shared your story, (and you know we’re all about sharing stories here at Historic Geneva) will encourage someone else to say yes to an internship. All the best to you!
How fortunate for Rose Hill to have benefited from having such a wonderful intern this summer. Alice Russo’s blog piece reveals qualities such as love of learning, dedication to achievement, and appreciation for opportunity sadly unknown to too many of today’s young people in America.