开云体育

I probably least expected the amount of freedom I would have at this internship, as well as the amount I would be trusted with right off the bat. For example, finding venues, doing social media, finding co-sponsors for events, etc. I learned how to work independently and think for myself rather than just follow instructions to get a task done. I also was surprised with what I was allowed to sit in on (ex. survivor calls, conferences, legal clinics). From this, I learned the day-to-day in a non-profit really well.

As a whole, my internship is what I expected it would be in terms of both my work and the environment. I would say the most surprising aspect of my internship is how friendly the staff is and how well we get along. At my previous internship, my supervisor and I were not very close and we typically did not make conversation while in the office. However, one of my favorite things about Holiday Express is how friendly and welcoming each of the staff members and volunteers are, which makes work much more pleasant. The biggest takeaway from this is how important it is to build relationships with your coworkers and how that can positively impact your work.

The most surprising thing about my internship is probably realizing how understaffed NGOs are. It was not really a shocker because most NGOs are understaffed and underfunded but it is still surprising to see how much doing one thing that to me seems small actually is very important for the organization. This really shows that I can never be frustrated or think that the work that I am doing doesn't mean anything. It proves how many small gears play a role in how a small organization can run and its efficiency.

Like Selena, I was also surprised with the leniency I was shown from the very first day I walked into the organization. From the beginning, I was trusted to write grants and secure essential funding for the organization, with little direction being given to me. However, I took this as a learning experience and really wanted to show the people I work with what I could accomplish. While some days are more difficult than others when it comes to being focused and mentally present in my work, being entrusted with such a big responsibility motivates me more often than not to put as much effort into my work as I possibly can.

Looking back now at my experience, I realized so much has surprised me. I didn’t realize the level of work I had to deliver for a very picky supervisor. At first I was frustrated but then I realized it was all an important lesson. Dealing with picky people is going to be vital in any job but especially in marketing. Marketing collateral is all subjective to the persons approval. I learned to work with the director but also to voice my opinions. Another thing that surprised me is the level of passion I had for immigration reform. This prompted me a little more about what I wanted to do with my life. I spoke to the director and other people in the office and more and more I discover that this is what I need to do. Right now, I am heavily considering going to law school in the future.?

Muhibur?

Going into my internship, I was most surprised by the lack of organization within my site whether it was regarding the manner in which we completed tasks or the way in which the tasks were delegated to the interns. There seemed to be confusion at all times. However, I was able to take lots of positives from this experience. It taught me how to promptly deal with issues that may arise from time to time and ask for help along the way. Working in any business environment requires team work in order to be successful. More so with non-profits because they are already understaffed and underfunded. I was able to learn that it takes a collective effort from every single person in the organization, even those who are in charge, in order to make the work environment enjoyable. That is something that my internship site failed to deliver and often times the work put in by interns went unnoticed. Moving forward, I hope to better utilize my skills with the help of many lessons I have learned from my past experiences which will allow me to work more efficiently.