I see myself as a leader who values clear communication, equity, and strong collaboration. This internship allowed me to step into leadership spaces; planning ahead, supporting programs, and listening to what students and staff needed. My identity as a future hospital leader is now more focused and community-rooted than ever before.

How My Professional Identity Complements and Challenges My Internship Work

How It Complements My Work

My professional identity aligns well with my HR responsibilities at Listen to Our Future, where I manage schedules, plan events, and take scheduling notes. My strong organizational skills allow me to create efficient schedules, ensuring that team members' availability aligns with key meetings and tasks. I enjoy structuring workflows and ensuring that everyone has the information they need to stay on track.

Additionally, my attention to detail helps me keep accurate scheduling notes, preventing miscommunication and ensuring smooth coordination. Since event planning requires balancing multiple moving parts such as logistics, timelines, and communication with different teams; my adaptability and problem-solving abilities help me adjust plans quickly when unexpected changes arise.

How It Challenges My Work

One challenge I face is balancing the different priorities that come with HR scheduling and event planning. Coordinating multiple schedules can sometimes lead to conflicts and resolving these while ensuring fairness can be tricky. I am learning to negotiate scheduling compromises and anticipate potential conflicts in advance.

Another challenge is ensuring that all event details are accounted for while managing multiple tasks at once. While I excel in planning, I am still developing my ability to delegate responsibilities when needed, rather than taking on too much at once. This internship has helped me recognize the importance of refining my ability to prioritize tasks and use time-management tools effectively.

Additionally, while I am confident in my organizational abilities, I am still learning how to navigate last-minute changes without feeling overwhelmed. Scheduling and event planning require flexibility, and I am working on becoming more comfortable with adjusting plans on short notice while maintaining efficiency.

How Knowing My Professional Identity Contributes to My Career Goals

Understanding my professional identity has reinforced my commitment to a career in healthcare administration, particularly in HR and finance. This internship has given me insight into how HR functions within an organization, helping me assess if this aligns with my long-term goal of running a hospital as a Chief Information Officer. While I enjoy HR's role in shaping workplace culture, I also see the importance of financial strategy in healthcare. This experience has confirmed that I want to work in administration but has encouraged me to explore HR’s role further in hospital settings.

My academic coursework has been highly relevant to my work with the SIP internship at Listen to Our Future. The knowledge and skills I’ve gained in healthcare administration, particularly around communication, research methods, and understanding healthcare systems, have directly influenced how I approach my responsibilities in the internship. For instance, the communication strategies I’ve learned in my courses have been instrumental in engaging with the community and addressing the needs of the individuals we serve. The ability to adapt my communication style to different audiences has proven valuable in ensuring that the messages and services are accessible and well-understood. Additionally, the research methods and analytical techniques I’ve developed through my studies have been critical in evaluating the needs of the communities we work with and in assessing the effectiveness of our programs.

The internship itself has been a great complement to my academic experience, providing me with real-world applications of the concepts I’ve learned. It has given me the chance to put my knowledge into practice, particularly in areas such as community health and public policy, which are key components of my coursework. Working on projects that aim to improve community well-being allows me to see how academic theories and frameworks are applied in practical settings. Through this internship, I am gaining insights into the challenges and rewards of working in community-based healthcare, which enriches my academic learning and provides a deeper understanding of the field.

Academic Connection: Currently

My Health IT and Healthcare Leadership courses directly supported my internship. In class, I learned how scheduling systems, communication platforms, and IT infrastructures support healthcare environments. I was able to apply that understanding when updating calendars and thinking through workflow processes at LTOF. Seeing how real-world tools are used reinforced concepts like HIT implementation, cybersecurity, and the value of clear digital communication.