Goals & Learning

Learning Goal #1: To expand my knowledge, careerwise.

Relevance: It will allow for me to continually expand my knowledge which will help me better myself for future

careers.

Action Plan: Recommend attending echo sessions and actively participating in the sessions

Progress: In March, I made good progress toward expanding my career knowledge by watching echo sessions and actively participating in material that has to do with sessions. I supplemented these with additional research, deepening my understanding. Some strategies were successfully applied to my work, leading to improvements. Balancing time for sessions with other responsibilities has been challenging. Moving forward, I plan to continue watching echo sessions, and I will continue to use what I learn to help make career choices. I’ll also integrate echo sessions into my weekly schedule for consistency. Overall, I’m satisfied with my progress but aim to continue to utilize my resources.

Learning Goal #2:  Pinpoint the type of work I want to do with my degree.

Relevance: I will allow for me to dig deep into what exactly I want to do with my degree.

Action Plan: Communicating with Echo staff and making connection, using interns’ task and responsibility to identify what interest me, and connecting to outside participants will have opportunities such as informational interviews or shadowing opportunities.

Progress: In March, I made progress in pinpointing the type of work I want to pursue with my degree. I’ve started connecting with Echo staff and other participants, learning about their roles and experiences. This has helped me gain insight into different career paths and responsibilities. Additionally, I’ve been using my internship tasks to identify what aspects of the work I enjoy most, which has provided clarity on my interests. However, I haven’t yet fully explored all possible areas within my degree, and I feel there’s still more to be done in reaching out for shadowing or internship opportunities. Moving forward, I plan to continue building connections with Echo staff, actively seek shadowing or internship opportunities, and reflect more on my internship experience to narrow down my interests. 

Learning Goal #3: Gain skills like professional communication that will help me in my career down the

road.

Relevance: It will help with fine tuning some of my skills, so I have better chances for future opportunities.

Action Plan: Complete trainings for they systems, using excels, marketing cloud, redcap and Asking questions during discussion/meetings

Progress: I have made progress in gaining skills that will help me in my career, particularly in professional communication and using key systems like Excel, Marketing Cloud, and RedCap. I’ve completed all initial training for these tools, which has helped me become more comfortable using them in my work. I’ve been more proactive in asking questions, which has improved my communication skills and helped me gain a better understanding of various topics. However, Moving forward, I plan to dedicate more time mastering a routine that i have comfortably done, as well as continuing to ask questions to improve my communication and understanding. 

• • • • • October: There are a few skills that I have used, such as problem-solving and communications. Another skill that I have used so far and have become very comfortable/confident with is teamwork. An example I could give is that I am always collaborating with other co-workers to get a task done for that set program, and with that, we are all communicating, whether that be through Teams or in person. 

        • March: Since the fall, I’ve become more confident in problem-solving, communication, and teamwork. I collaborate regularly with colleagues, whether through Teams or in person, to complete tasks efficiently. I’ve also become more proactive in team settings, helping out and contributing ideas more confidently. This has improved my communication and adaptability. Additionally, I’ve strengthened my time management and critical thinking skills, helping me prioritize tasks and find solutions to challenges that I approach. These skills have contributed to my growth both personally and professionally.

        • October: I wouldn't say there are multiple skills I want to work on right now, but I do want to work on independence skills from the survey. Not in the aspect that I have trouble working independently, but more on I have trouble finding who I should reach out to when I have questions about anything. Some actions I can take are asking my direct supervisor, whom I report to, or I can ask the other people who are in the same programs as me.

        • March: This semester, I’ve made significant progress in developing my independence skills. I no longer struggle with knowing who to reach out to when I have questions. I now feel comfortable directly messaging either another intern or my supervisors whenever I need guidance. This has helped me become more self-sufficient and confident in seeking the right support when needed. Moving forward, I plan to continue strengthening these connections to ensure I’m always able to get the information I need quickly and efficiently.

My internship at the IUI ECHO Center in Indianapolis has given me a better idea of the career paths I might want to pursue. By applying what I’ve learned in my classes, I’ve been able to explore different areas that match the work I’ve been doing, especially through research and learning from the tasks I take on. The hands-on experience at the center has shown me how the work we do really helps and makes a difference in the communities we serve. This experience has not only helped me figure out what direction I want to go in but has also helped me develop important skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. These skills will be key as I continue to grow in my career and major.