Internship

Workplace

Throughout my academic coursework, I have developed strong time management skills, which are essential for meeting deadlines and maintaining consistency in my work. My experience as a Dental Hygiene Assistant has reinforced the importance of teamwork, allowing me to effectively collaborate and communicate in a professional setting. I intend to apply these skills during my internship by fostering clear communication and strong collaboration with fellow interns and team members. Additionally, my role as a volunteer refugee mentor has broadened my perspective and strengthened my ability to adapt to diverse environments. This experience has taught me the value of open-mindedness, which I will carry into my internship as I remain receptive to learning, engage with teammates, and work closely with parents and caregivers involved in this research. 

At the beginning of my internship, I took on a more observant role, focusing on learning processes, understanding team dynamics, and familiarizing myself with the research goals. As I gained confidence, my role evolved into a more proactive team member, where I actively contributed to recruitment efforts, data collection, and assisting with organizational tasks. My contributions directly supported the research team's goal of gathering valuable data on Autism by editing interview transcripts, creating surveys, and scoping informative articles on Autism diagnoses. By maintaining accurate records and following up with potential participants, I helped streamline the data collection phase, ultimately contributing to the project's overall success. Even the smallest tasks, such as organizing data and editing transcriptions played a crucial role in keeping the project on track. Without consistent communication, the research process would have been significantly delayed. My efforts ensured that my team had the necessary participants to collect meaningful data, reinforcing the importance of every team member’s role—no matter how routine it may seem.

Successes and Challenges

I felt successful as an intern when I consistently completed my tasks on time and earned the trust to handle important and confidential information. This reinforced my confidence in my ability to perform my responsibilities accurately and efficiently. Additionally, when I completed my assignments ahead of schedule, I took the initiative to seek out additional tasks, further contributing to the team's success. 

One of my biggest successes this year was becoming proficient in REDCap, a secure data management system widely used in research. I used REDCap to enter, organize, and manage surveys for participants, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality. Mastering this tool allowed me to contribute more efficiently to the research process and support the team in maintaining well-structured data for analysis. This experience reinforced my ability to adapt to new technologies, a skill that will be essential in both my academic and professional future. As I continue in my career, whether in research or clinical practice, I will need to learn and apply various data management and patient record systems. My success with REDCap has shown me that with persistence and curiosity, I can quickly develop technical skills that enhance my contributions to a team. This has motivated me to embrace learning opportunities with confidence, knowing that every new skill I acquire brings me one step closer to my long-term career goals.

One challenge I encountered during my internship was balancing work with academics, especially given the rigorous science courses I was taking for my Biology major. The workload from both my studies and internship tasks can get overwhelming, particularly when I have to review lengthy scientific articles and research papers for hours at a time. To manage, I developed a structured study and work routine, breaking tasks into manageable chunks to avoid burnout. This allowed me to stay organized and maintain consistency, ensuring that I could fulfill both my academic and internship commitments. What helped me most in overcoming this challenge was the support and understanding of my internship team. My supervisor and colleagues encouraged me to prioritize my workload and offered flexibility when needed, which made it easier to stay on track without feeling overwhelmed. Additionally, they provided valuable feedback and suggestions on how to efficiently review and digest scientific literature, which helped me improve my focus and productivity.

Another challenge I faced was recruiting physicians, caregivers, and parents of children with and without Autism for interviews. Many individuals declined to participate, which slowed the recruitment process and initially made me feel discouraged. However, my supervisor reassured me that recruitment in such studies is often a lengthy and difficult process. They helped me refine my approach to potential participants by suggesting ways to improve communication and make the process more engaging. This guidance gave me the confidence to stay positive, and I ultimately became more effective in my outreach