Skills/Strengths:

• Time Management 

• Organization 

• Communication

I have gained these skills and strengths through past work experience combined with my experience in leadership and my time as a student. I learned how to manage my time by balancing multiple different activities, including juggling a job outside of classes, time to study for exams and getting homework done, and also carving out time to be the Vice President of a student organization called U Bring Change 2 Mind, a mental health advocacy club. Being a student and a Vice President makes organization key to stay on top of everything. I use a planner and I organize my assignments by their due dates to make sure I can complete them in time. I have gained communication skills through working an off campus job, I have to work with others to get certain tasks done, and also through being a Vice President. A lot of the times I have to conduct leadership meetings and I have to delegate tasks to the other officers. These past strengths and skills will allow me to contribute valuable skills like organizing data collected from the Wellness Project and being able to communicate effectively with my supervisor and other peers within the project when needed. I can also use my time management skills to get the work assigned to me done and to balance my time as an intern along with all of my other duties of being a student and Vice President. 

Working in a Team:

Working this year as an intern, I have been given the opportunity to work more alongside other people. I have been able to grow as a team member through this experience of working as an intern. Although, my position as a team member isn't necessarily working with a group of people, I am working behind the scenes to help get the job done. For example, this year I have been able to work alongside both Dr. Delbridge and Dr. Bruski in the Wellness project. One of the main things I have done for this project was generate ideas for fun team building exercises for the residents, doctors and other professionals to participate in during the monthly wellness meetings. I was able to help the larger project by creating fun activities for the people participating in those monthly meetings to get to know one another more and to also use that time as a stress reliever or a time where they can just have a little fun, outside their busy schedules. This specific contribution aligns with my goals of getting the most out of this experience and be able to experience all kinds of things, because of this I am getting to see different sides to the healthcare system that I didn't necessarily know could be such a big impact on patient care. Working with these doctors and participating in this project allowed me to gain a better understanding of how important the wellness of the doctors is, while also relating that back to paitent care.

Through the time I have spent as an intern, I have been able to encounter both successes and challenges. One of the biggest successes I have accomplished so far is deciding that I want to work in a more clinical setting in my future career. I came to this decision after shadowing a doctor in a clinic, an opportunity made possible through my site and supervisor. While observing direct patient care, I realized that working closely with patients is more meaningful to me than a role in administration or a lab setting. Seeing the impact this doctor had on patients was truly inspiring. I also shadowed a doctor in an inpatient care setting, and this experience solidified my desire to work in patient care. Watching the team collaborate, moving from room to room and rounding on patients, made me confident that this is the path I want to follow. Another success I’ve achieved this semester is improving my time management and independence skills. Much of my work for this site is done independently, so I’ve learned to devote specific time to complete my tasks while balancing coursework and personal responsibilities. I’ve developed a habit of planning out my days to ensure I meet all my commitments. I’ve also grown more confident in asking questions and seeking guidance when needed. For example, while working on my literature review for the end-of-semester showcase, I reached out to my supervisor when I hit a roadblock. Her feedback gave me new ideas and helped me improve my project. All of these experiences have contributed to my growth, both professionally and academically. I believe the skills I’ve developed during this internship will continue to benefit me as I move forward in my career and education. I’m excited to build on these successes and keep growing from here.

One of the biggest challenges I faced during this internship was finding consistent time to meet with my supervisor to review tasks and expectations. Although I tried to follow the schedule I set at the beginning of the semester, it became difficult for us to find time to meet regularly. As a result, we often had to rely on email communication when meetings weren’t possible. This was challenging because I value face-to-face conversations to clarify tasks and ask questions in real time. However, as the semester progressed, I learned how to better prioritize my time and reach out when I needed support. We eventually established a rhythm of meeting every few weeks to ensure everything was on track, and I communicated via email in between when needed. This experience taught me the importance of staying in touch and developing strong communication skills, something that’s essential not only in internships but also in academic and professional environments. Through overcoming this challenge, I was able to gain better communication skills that are vital for my career as a student and a professional as I will be able to take this skill and use it in different situations regarding coursework or other professional settings. For example, communicating with professors about an assignment or exam or talking with coworkers in the future.