Leadership at Internship

How does leadership play a role in your internship? How do your co-workers or supervisor display leadership capabilities?
Leadership is an essential role in my internship. It is not about the role each person hold that determines that work they do. It doesn't matter, teammates help and support each other as the purpose to serve our mission. This to me is true leadership.

Are you able to demonstrate any leadership skills? 
Yes, I was able to demonstrate leadership skills throughout my internship. I was able to do so because my team allowed me to expand my horizon and they valued what I had to bring to the table. They supported and believed in my abilities. I am grateful that I was able to explore and practice leadership skills at this organization.

What I Learned From My Internship

What were the most important things you learned from this internship? 
One of the most important things that I have learned from my internship would have to be what it truly means to work on a team. Everyone works so incredibly well together, always so supportive and there to help each other better the organization. After all, that is the purpose. I hope that wherever I end up working that I get to work alongside a team just as amazing.

Another important thing that I have learned would have to be establishing my limits and boundaries in the work force. I have the tendency to overwork myself. I have trouble saying no because I feel bad when I do but it than adds more stress to the work load that I already have. I learned that it is good to help others but to a certain extent as people tend to take advantage of my kindness. Also, it is okay to stay after work for 10-15 minutes every once in awhile for tasks that needs to be met by a certain deadline but I should not find myself always doing that. These are somethings to keep in mind and assure that I don't burn myself out.

Look back to your first blog post. Did you meet your initial goals? Why or why not?
Looking back on my very first post, I would have to say that I did meet my initial goals. I indicated that I wanted to help strengthen the voice of Arizona's youth population during my internship, which I felt I did. I helped made phone calls as well as followed up with BIGS that expressed interests in having a LITTLE. In this, I was able to get a few people on board to become BIGS to make a positive impact on young lives.

Another initial goal was to leave Big Brothers Big Sisters of AZ Central better than the first day I started the internship. I felt that I was able to meet this goal as my team brought to my attention that I am an excellent problem-solver. They said that if the parameters of a project needed to be changed, I never hesitated to step in with solutions to support the project, etc. They expressed how I have made a positive impact on our organization and glad that I chose to intern with them.

The last initial goal was to possibly implement a potential fundraising idea that could be used annually. Furthermore, I pitched some ideas as fundraisers that I have done with the team that they could consider doing. I also brainstormed on potential fundraiser(s) that could possibly become something Big Brothers Big Sisters does annually.

Thank You to Supervisor

Dear Jessica,

I would like to take the time to say thank you for an unforgettable internship experience. Thank you for believing in me and my abilities to grant me the privilege to intern with Big Brothers Big Sisters this semester. I hope that I made a positive impact while I was there.

I am truly grateful that I had the opportunity to intern at such an incredible organization with an amazing group of individuals. I cannot express my gratitude as to how this experience has made an impact on my career path.

Thank you for being the wonderful supervisor that you are. Thank you for everything--you truly helped me grow more as an individual. I appreciate you, Jessica.

I am here for the organization however I can. Please don't ever hesitate to reach out to me whenever needed.

With Much Appreciation,
Denise H.

Career Services #2

For this assigned post on career services, I decided to meet with one of my supervisor to review my resume (e.g. what I should keep or cut from my resume, etc). I also brought a generic cover letter that I had created when I took my career development course and seek for further guidance on that.

The meeting was beneficial and helped me further strengthen both my resume and cover letter. Since the cover letter was just generic and written a little while back, my supervisor helped me revise it accordingly to my field. We focused the cover letter on potential places I have interest in possibly applying to.

I am grateful for her assistance because she was able to help enhance my accomplishments with the revisions and suggestions. Not only this, but she offered me some useful tips in the work force that I will take with me, wherever life drives me.

Strengths of Organization

What are the strengths of your organization?

There are so many strengths within this organization that I gained the privilege to intern at this semester. One of the strengths is how everyone is incredibly uplifting and supportive of one another. It is crucial to work in an environment where one feels appreciated and valued. Another strength would have to be that the team is able to communicate with one another efficiently. The team communicates and addresses the things that needs to be address so well that this is not something that has ever arise as a concern. There are many strengths that this organization possess but one last strength is how everyone is there to help one another get the job done. The organization cares about the mission and how to better it everyday. I value that it is not about the title that bases on who does what. We are a team and we are in it together.


If you were in charge of a similar organization, are there any things you would do differently?

The organization already runs well as is, however, I would revise somethings if I were to be in charge of a similar organization. One thing that I would change is to possibly change up the routines for the interns a tad. At times, I felt like I was repeating the same work over and over.

Free Write #11: Boost and Uplift One Another

Recently, I was studying at the Cronkite library. These two disrespectful students were not courtesy of the people around them, so rude and loud. They were very disrespectful while I was stressed out taking my quiz. Shoving and pushing my chair constantly and then laughed about it. One of them kept kicking the cord, where another student's computer is. It got unplugged and shut off the computer of the student working on her eight page research paper. These computers will wipe all files once it's been logged or shut off, so she lost her paper. The student was furious, I don't blame her! Without hesitation, I went to calm her down and tried helping how I could. 

I couldn't get her paper back but I thought the least I could do was show that I care. I kneeled down beside her and helped her compose the email to her professor explaining the situation. After we were done, she thanked me. She said that she's so tired but thank you for truly giving her strength. I replied by saying: "I'm glad I could help and to remember that one person didn't give up on you." 

She told me I'm an angel. Both her and her friend said I'm definitely in the right degree. Although I am overwhelmed and dealing with some crisis in my life, I couldn't resist sitting back. Glad I could give someone strength, it's important to be kind and boost one another up. I'm the kind of person that will get down and dirty and go out of my way to bring people up. I'm thankful for my heart, it always wants good for others. I want my actions to inspire others to take action wherever necessary. I strive to be the person I want to see in others.

Free Write #10: She Believed She Could

She believed she could and so she's making it happen. Undergrad has given me battles so much bigger than my petite self. Every end tested my strengths. It took every ounce of sweat, tears, heartaches and energy out of me to be standing here in this position. I conquered things I didn't once ever thought I could. My undergrad journey has definitely made me stronger and bolder. I've come a long way and have grown a lot as an individual since I started college. I'm not the same person that entered college, I've become invincible. Here I am, soon to walk across the stage for my bachelor's degree. 

Through all the times I've stumbled and fallen. Through the times I've lost my way and have been defeated. Through the times I've been through a lot of hurt and pains. I've gone through so much that I honestly didn't think I'd make it to see this day. Thank you for the love and support from people in my life to help get me here. I'm almost there, nothing can stop me now. Time to bring the finale home! Time to finish this BIG, LOUD and PROUD! 

Free Write #9: My Cultural Bridge

When being asked how my culture has contributed to who I am and the choices I have made towards my education, I would have to say that the Vietnamese culture has played a major role. It is the main reason for me to be who I am right now as an individual. My culture’s number one priority and value is education because we believe that education has the ability to shape you as an individual and to give you the knowledge and tools that you need for success.

Ever since I began to speak my first few words and walk my very first steps, I have been raised in a culture that has been teaching and reminding me that education is the key that will get me to where I hope to be in life. Besides valuing my culture, the American culture is also interwoven into me. At the age of four, I immigrated to the United States. From that moment, I had to learn to connect my birth culture with the American culture.

Growing up, I only had one vision and it was to stay focused in school to pursue a degree at a university because of the opportunity that I had been granted to live in the United States.  In Vietnam, there are many children who would want this opportunity. Unfortunately, they cannot afford to either go to school or to be given a life in a land of freedom. However, I was given both, so I have to take advantage of the opportunities given to me. 

I have received recognition for various achievements. In eighth grade, I had the extraordinary chance to travel to Washington D.C. and meet all the congressmen. We visited the White House, as well as many historic places such as the Pentagon and the Holocaust Museum. I received the Presidential Award signed by former President George W. Bush for being an outstanding leader of the Washington D.C. Program. This program had high expectations; it required a certain grade point average, leadership, dedication, and self-discipline.  From being taught in a culture that values all of these factors, I was able to apply them here.

Our culture is what makes up who we are. It is ingrained in us, down to the most basic levels of our thoughts and personalities. There is no denying it: culture is one of the major factors that shape us as we grow up, and it also affects the decisions we make as adults. Culture is part of the foundation of our persona and ideology, and, truly it is what makes us unique. These cultural values have made such a strong impact on who I am becoming and on my education choices.

Public Service Demonstration

How does your organization demonstrate public service?

My organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters is ideally an organization that demonstrates public service based on the fact that it is nonprofit. One of the ways it demonstrates public service is how the program focus on the children in the program. The money being raised and grants received are all to help provide the Big Brother or Big Sister in the program support their little siblings in whatever way they may need. Another factor is how everyone works together to help the organization grow. It does not matter on which title people hold within the organization, it is more about getting the job done to better the organization however they can. The organization is service before self and always willing to do what it can to support the organization. Everyone works incredibly hard. I am grateful to have interned at an organization who cares to tremendously make a difference in other lives. Big Brothers Big Sisters is the definition of public service.

Free Write #8: Dinner time and the Intrusion of the Phone

As I look around at the dinner table in the present day with my friends, with my family or even my peers in the dining hall, everyone is occupied with not the matters of who is around them or what to be grateful for that is in front of them but rather what is on their phone. We focus a significant amount of our times checking Instagram, Facebook  or other social medias. What we have failed to recognize is the importance of each other's company and the importance of optimizing the bond in front of us over dinner or any other meal time. 

Instead of checking how many likes we have on Facebook or Instagram, we neglect to check on our neighbor. With this in mind, ours and future generations should empathize the value of each other's presence and focus less on our phones. Otherwise, we will lose touch with our reality and our relationships will suffer. 

Free Write #7: My Starbucks Experience at Taylor Place

Starbucks at Taylor Place certainly has its advantages of being accessible to students on campus; however, one of the areas that this particular Starbucks lacks in is its quality control. On numerous occasions, I have bought coffee for a staggering $4.28 or above (depending on what kind of drink and the size I got), only to receive half or less than half of a cup when I received my drinks. This is unacceptable as not only do I encounter such inconvenient service but my colleagues have had similar experiences as well.

With this in perspective, the Starbucks at Taylor Place needs to perform better. My colleague Tammie expressed her thoughts on how something usually goes wrong at this specific location in which I totally agree with her. If it is not one thing, it's something else. Either their credit card machines down, running out of lids for the drinks, getting peoples drinks wrong and so on. Honestly, students might as well take the extra few minutes to walk over to the Arizona Center's Starbucks to avoid these conflicts. The only downside to this is that the Arizona Center's location does not accept M&G, otherwise, students would most likely be visiting other local Starbucks.