History student and REV Birmingham intern Stephanie Qualls has become a regular face amongst the cobblestone streets and old buildings of downtown. She interned all semester, and now that her time at REV and UAB is winding down she reflects on her experiences in the History department and at REV and offers some advice for students who share her love for history and the city of Birmingham.

The biggest takeaway from her experience is patience. “Coming in not knowing anything about the systems I’m using while having objectives like gathering information for all of Northside” was at first difficult to manage, she says.

One of the things she learned is that no matter the task, there is always a solution to be found: “When one outlet fails, try another.” At REV she had the independence to determine best outcomes, work experience that can be applied anywhere. Another benefit she gained was building self-confidence as a professional.

Through the internship, Stephanie found a perspective of Birmingham many don’t consider. “I grew up in Birmingham and I’ve always had this idea that there is too much vacant space in Birmingham, but once I got out on foot, walking around the blocks — a lot of Birmingham is occupied and more things are moving in.” Being a part of downtown restoration efforts has been a highlight of the experience for her.

Although her plans for the future are not concrete, working with REV has proved the relevance in her History degree and shown her job potential in each of the streets she has been cataloging. She is intrigued by the opportunities that exist in the fields of real estate and public history. Even if she does choose to teach (her second degree is in Education) she says that her classroom will have a huge connection to Birmingham and its history.

Her internship has not been directly related to Educational History, but she is excited about the chance to take her experience in public history to the classroom. “If you live in Birmingham — in the state — you need to know about this!” she says of the city’s rich history.

Exploring downtown and its buildings has added a depth to being a History major that she could not find in the classroom. While some of the career options she is considering may not be “historically hands on,” she is now able to see her study of History fitting into many fields.

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By Ethan Gissendaner. Ethan is a junior majoring in Healthcare Management with a minor in Professional Writing. He is an active member of UAB's community, holding leadership positions in Greek life, Student Housing, and the Student Alumni Society.