I like that I was asked what skills I wanted to learn and improve on.
What I wish was different
I wish that this internship was paid, and that there was more opportunities for unemployment after I graduate.
Advice
I would say that you can really take advantage of the learning aspect. Step outside of your comfort zone and choose to learn something new. You never know when you are going to find your new passion.
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Community Relations Intern
May - August 2020 • Mankato, MN
What I liked
I loved the small atmosphere and tight knit team of the organization. With 6 full-time staff members, it made it really easy to get to know each person as an individual, as also helped me feel like I could express myself and my opinions openly. I also LOVED the mission of this organization to feed food insecure students by providing weekend meals at no cost to the families. It's so fun to keep in touch with this organization after my time there to see how they are expanding their mission to reach more students and provide more meals.
What I wish was different
My day-to-day activities were not always the most glamorous. Many times, I would spend my entire work day deleting unnecessary files from a database or shredding papers. These tasks are important to the organization, but it got to be pretty boring some days, and it felt like I was treated like a "coffee intern." A lot of my work was super fun though :)
Advice
Don't be afraid to ask questions. That's one thing that my supervisor encouraged me to do DAILY. When she gave me a task for the day, I challenged myself to ask her at least one question relating to the task, such as what the purpose was behind my work, how my work would impact the overall organization, how my work would affect the students and families we work with. Or who did I need to talk to to get my project approved, who I should collaborate with to brainstorm the best ideas, etc. Not only does it give you valuable information for you to do your job well, but it also shows your supervisors and co-workers that you care about the work that you do and that you are willing to put in the extra effort to accomplish a task well.
