Goals and Learning

Internship Goals

By the end of my semester, I would want to apply what I learned in stats class to real world situations. I want to be able to efficiently perform calculations and run analysis based off of collected data.

I can practice this by...

A. Using advanced functioning in excel

B. Utilizing Basic descriptive for stats

C. Asist with higher level analysis Learning

→ In my career I'll have to know how to analyze data, so practicing now is important.

Update: 3/25/24

I am doing basic data analysis with categorizing responses to an education system from INPACT and INCAST projects.

By the end of my internship, I want to learn how to manage and organize large sums of data.

Through my internship I would like to...

Make folders and zip files
Learn how to create surveys in REDCap
Export and clean data in excel Manage REDCap data and create reports Learning

→ In my career I will be working with various forms of data such as personal identifying info, so I will need to be able to organize and keep track of things.

Update :3/25/24

Since I have been working with survey responses, I would say I achieved this goal. I have read through hundreds of survey responses to quantify them.

By the end of the year, I would like to know how to conduct a formal interview. So far, I have done multiple informal interviews with other students on campus, but i haven't done it in a clinical setting.

Task to help with this learning goal include:

Review qualitative interviewing techniques and practice them
Learn how to conduct informed consent
Understand and write interview guides
Practice conducting qualitative interviews
Learn how to ask probing questions

i. Learn how to keep to the interview guide to stay on task. ii. Mirroring techniques

iii. Write a field note that will include analysis of the interview Learning

→ Interviewing is a skill I'll be utilizing in therapy settings.

Update 3/25/24

I havent done this et, but I have been offered a position in research over the summer where I would be interviewing people.

By the end of internship, I want to build a strong network of professional staff

I will overall build relationships with the professional staff. Specifically I could...

Talk with Matt Aalsma - juvenile justice
Talk with Greg Zimet- HPV and surveys

→ This goal will help expose me to my future career, and learn about possible jobs or opportunities that may arise.

Update 3/25/24:

I have met a couple of people through office gatherings. I know that I have people I can reach out to about professional questions. I will for sure reach out to them when I start applying to grad programs.

The connections i have made have connected me to other opportunities outside of the internship I am at now, so I am grateful for this.

Professional School Goals

Right now, I am thinking of applying to some sort of public health program my senior year, so that I could do work in outreach. I have been exposed to people who do outreach work in both my internship and campus job, and really admire the work they do. I have found myself wanting to have more open dialogue when it comes to sex related topics, especially when it comes to facilitated conversations around STI's, consent, or relationships, so I believe that a career path in sex education would be a great fit for me.

For now, I do my best to study and truly absorb what I am learning to be knowledgeable in my career field. I have also been thinking about taking sexual studies classes to help strengthen things I actively learn about sex education through my campus positions.

Update 3/25/24

My career goals have been pretty reinforced through this internship. I got to hear the point of view of professionals who already work in the field of sexual health. They brought up inbalances they see within the field when it comes to patient care. I would also like to help bridge the gap between patients and professional care to better educate other in the field of sexual health. As of right now , I would like to go into research. The only downside about research is issues with pay. It just depends on where you work and if the person you work for has enough funding for the project.

Over the summer I will be helping with research and actively looking into grad programs. I want to make sure I do full research on possible grants that are out there or scholarships for grad school. Location is a pretty big deal to me, so this will help me narrow down my search.

My learning Reflections

Which skill(s) on the survey are you using so far or where are you more confident already? Give examples of how you're using the skill or how you know you're growing.

My problem solving skills are pretty good. Whenever there is a gap in information I was given I can often figure out how to do something on my own if I need to. An example of this was when I had to make a colored map of the states for a presentation and had to figure out what site to use to create it and make it look nice.

Which skill(s) from the survey would you like to continue to work on? What will you do to grow the skill(s)?

I may need more work on facing challenges. I feel like I can get easily irritated when something goes wrong. I will still do what I need to do to fix or add to whatever work I need to , but I find it irritating to feel like I am backpeddling on task, or if something is taking longer than it should to finish.

How are you using and/or building on your existing strengths or experiences so far as an intern?

I have experience at other jobs and internships, so I have developed the ability to communicate with my supervisors. I am also very independent with my work, so I am able to apply this to my internship by doing things on my own so that faculty can focus on their work.

How has the internship helped you gain a deeper understanding of your coursework or major?

One way my internship has helped me further understand my coursework is by allowing me to see the IRB research process. I took a class where we talked about how research gets approved, and what all goes into it, however actually getting to help in the process and see the steps we talked about in class in real time will aid my memory in remembering the process in which research projects being formed.

Update 3/25/24

Skills I am more confident with

Since I became aware of how irritated I can get, I started journaling about it more, or just asked for clarification on task so that I wouldn't have to back peddle. So, things that are work related don't really stress me anymore like they used to.

Area for improvement

I also need to work more on interpersonal skills. The introduction to counseling class that I am taking this semester has helped with that. Through taking the class, I have realized that I need to be more intentional when holding conversations with people to better communicate, and ask questions with genuine curiosity to keep the conversation going. This will help me when networking and while interviewing people for the research I am doing this summer.

Strength I have built on

I would say I have further enhanced my independence. I was used to being given task when my supervisor was here, but now I have to pretty much give myself a to do list to make sure I am making progress with my LHSI project.

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