Internship

Workplace

Drawing from my past work and life experiences, I've honed skills such as attention to detail, writing and communication, teamwork, and a broad understanding of mental healthcare practices. My role as a custodian taught me to notice and clean areas often overlooked by others, instilling in me a keen attention to detail. In warehouse positions, teamwork was essential as we collaborated to move items efficiently in a fast-paced setting. As a student and throughout life, I've consistently developed my writing and communication abilities. These skills are crucial for my internship, allowing me to be thorough in my methods and documentation and to collect the necessary data for tasks. They also promote effective teamwork and clear communication at the internship site. My familiarity with specific therapies and mental healthcare approaches gained through hospitalizations will aid in reducing misunderstandings when researching and discussing related subjects.

I have been the team member that volunteers for the jobs nobody else wants to do. I do not mind the tedious work or editing, proofreading, or finding sources. My role pretty much stayed the same throughout. My contributions impacted the larger goals by making sure we had a polished and thoroughly thought-out finished project with all of the proper sources and wording. This contribution mattered because we need to be as professional as possible and put out the finished project without any oversights.

Successes and Challenges

On a personal note, I feel I have succeeded in effective communication with my supervisor throughout this internship. Despite struggling with several significant life and personal challenges, I have managed to maintain an open dialogue regarding my circumstances. I have had to juggle my mental health needs alongside my academic responsibilities and personal obligations. My supervisor has been exceptionally understanding; she has reassured me that prioritizing my mental health and maintaining my academic performance should take precedence. Another success this year is that I have dedicated myself to diligently completing every task assigned to me. I proactively communicate with her when I feel prepared to take on additional responsibilities, ensuring that I maintain the quality of my work. I have also learned a significant amount about Autism that I had no clue about before this experience. I can apply my communication skills and task diligence to future success by keeping it up and taking accountability for myself and my work. I can also apply my knowledge about Autism to not just future careers, but everyday life. I may meet several Autistic people in the future and be working with them or for them, so this awareness will help me understand and communicate with them more constructively.

   A pivotal realization I’ve had through this experience is the importance of addressing the cycles of abuse that have impacted my personal life. These negative patterns previously affected my well-being and hindered my progress, but discussions with both my supervisor and my therapist have proven invaluable. They have helped me understand that expressing my difficulties has aided me in my ability to maintain a high GPA while successfully managing an internship alongside other commitments.

This school year has posed significant challenges, primarily due to my home environment. It has been the most difficult period of my college experience thus far, marked by the death of a family member and the presence of a toxic partner whose behaviors contributed to an unstable living situation. The volatility in my home life made it incredibly difficult to concentrate on my studies and internship responsibilities. However, I can finally breathe easier now that that individual is no longer living with me. Dr. Fodstad has been incredibly supportive and understanding during this time, which has made a substantial difference.

As we transitioned into the spring semester, I am hopeful for a fresh start. Now that the instability has dissipated, I aim to re-establish a structured routine with professional help. I continue to meet with my therapist regularly, ensuring I have a safe space to discuss my feelings and challenges. I’ve also learned the importance of reaching out when I am struggling, and I will keep my supervisor informed about my progress and any difficulties I encounter. 

Additionally, I have reached out to the mentors at LHSI to share that my semester hasn’t unfolded as I initially envisioned. They have offered me reassurance and encouragement regarding my growth as an intern, student, and individual. I have realized that experiencing a difficult semester does not equate to being a failure as long as I remain committed to trying, improving, and taking accountability for what I can control. 

Above in the fall I stated how I had hoped for a fresh start in the Spring. It has definitely been fresh, but busier than I anticipated. I accidentally signed up for more classes than I thought and am taking on more than I can truly handle. I am hanging in there, but 16 credits feels like so much to me on top of everything else. Thankfully, my internship team has been very flexible with me and respects the amount of internship work I am able to do. Their understanding has helped me tremendously when it comes to not being too overwhelmed with my workload. Overall, this internship experience has taught me that I can take on more than I think and still be successful. This will be important for my future when trying to be a professional in the world because confidence is key. I needed to believe in myself more, and I think I have achieved that this year. Thank you, LHSI!