Internship Journal: Self-Advocacy
I believe I have advocated for myself on various occasions during my internship. During my first couple weeks, I advocated for myself to attend and sit in on meetings and luncheons, ranching in topics from Lobbyist money usage to California's drought to preschool education. I even got permission to make certificates of recognition for the 2014 ADL National Youth Leadership Mission San Diego Delegation, which I am a part of.
All that aside, I think the best example of my self advocacy is embodied in my internship project. From the beginning, I made sure that my colleagues knew that I wanted my project to be something that benefitted their office, and that it was not just something I did for school that they would forget about when I left. I informed my mentor that I loved controversy, and that some of my brightest strengths were my ability to communicate and speak publicly. I also made it very clear that I am horrible with technology, and as a result, came my Internship Project. For my project, I am working with two other interns, Dezza Vidrio and Naidelyn Hernandez, and we are working to produce a video on behalf of the office of Assemblywoman Gonzalez in support of AB 949, the bill that would turn competitive cheer into a CIF sport.
This project has taken more than ten hours of work after official hours, and I think the reason I am so willing to make that time commitment is because it's not a project I was just assigned; it's something my mentor, colleagues and I worked together to come up with, and I don't think I would be working on a project like this right now if it wasn't for my self advocacy.
All that aside, I think the best example of my self advocacy is embodied in my internship project. From the beginning, I made sure that my colleagues knew that I wanted my project to be something that benefitted their office, and that it was not just something I did for school that they would forget about when I left. I informed my mentor that I loved controversy, and that some of my brightest strengths were my ability to communicate and speak publicly. I also made it very clear that I am horrible with technology, and as a result, came my Internship Project. For my project, I am working with two other interns, Dezza Vidrio and Naidelyn Hernandez, and we are working to produce a video on behalf of the office of Assemblywoman Gonzalez in support of AB 949, the bill that would turn competitive cheer into a CIF sport.
This project has taken more than ten hours of work after official hours, and I think the reason I am so willing to make that time commitment is because it's not a project I was just assigned; it's something my mentor, colleagues and I worked together to come up with, and I don't think I would be working on a project like this right now if it wasn't for my self advocacy.
"How to be an Intern Everyone Remembers" Advice
Three quarters of the way through my internship, I do believe I have followed the advice on the blog Dr. P provided for us, which you can find here. I have mad a conscious effort to ask for assignments or offering assistance once I have finished my originially assigned tasks, and the opportunities that have resulted from that have greatly enriched my experience.
I also have my own notepad that my mentor gave to me on the first day, and I have taken that with me to every meeting I have attended and have used it every time I have manned the phone lines. The notepad in my internship is the equivalent to my Write Club Journal in Dr. P's class; there is never a logical reason to not have it.
I was very adamant about getting to get to know my colleagues early on, positioning myself at the desk that was closest to my co-workers, instead of setting up camp in the much nicer, and much more comfortable, office of the Assemblywoman.
The only day I have been late to anything was today, when the trolley broke down and caused a 45 minute delay (and I was still only ten minutes late). Outside of that, I have been at least 15 minutes early to work every day and at least 5 minutes early to every meeting I have attended on behalf of the Assemblywoman.
Dress code, check. I have been in POL attire constantly, and not a single day has gone by where I am not wearing nice pants, dress shoes, a dress shirt, and a tie. I also have not worn the same thing twice yet, but that's more of a personal accomplishment that I am very proud of than it is evidence that I have tried my very best to be a professional intern.
I also have my own notepad that my mentor gave to me on the first day, and I have taken that with me to every meeting I have attended and have used it every time I have manned the phone lines. The notepad in my internship is the equivalent to my Write Club Journal in Dr. P's class; there is never a logical reason to not have it.
I was very adamant about getting to get to know my colleagues early on, positioning myself at the desk that was closest to my co-workers, instead of setting up camp in the much nicer, and much more comfortable, office of the Assemblywoman.
The only day I have been late to anything was today, when the trolley broke down and caused a 45 minute delay (and I was still only ten minutes late). Outside of that, I have been at least 15 minutes early to work every day and at least 5 minutes early to every meeting I have attended on behalf of the Assemblywoman.
Dress code, check. I have been in POL attire constantly, and not a single day has gone by where I am not wearing nice pants, dress shoes, a dress shirt, and a tie. I also have not worn the same thing twice yet, but that's more of a personal accomplishment that I am very proud of than it is evidence that I have tried my very best to be a professional intern.