I’ve finished my second week at Oxfam America! I found this internship through applying to a variety of organizations on multiple platforms. I had the most success online, using websites like internships.com and Linkedin. I also applied to a lot of internships that focused on an assortment of topics that I was interested in. I would definitely recommend doing this. It was helpful to cast my net far and try to open as many doors as possible for myself. There were some organizations that I didn’t hear back from, which was obviously disappointing, but I am glad that I tried! And, ultimately, I’m working at an organization that feels like the perfect fit.
I’ve been working 9am – 5pm every day at their Washington, DC office. I have my own desk that is organized within a set of four with three other interns. One of the other interns is working in the same department that I am, which has been helpful, as we can often discuss the work together and talk through anything that is confusing. The first couple days consisted of introductions, technology trainings, and generally getting accustomed to the new environment and office. Although I felt a little overwhelmed at the beginning, the trainings helped to clear up any confusion, and there were many people around to help with any questions I had.
I’ve primarily been doing research and writing for both the Campaigns team and the Private Sector Department. I’ve had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects. I feel as though I’m given a lot of responsibility but that there is always someone to reach out to if I feel confused or lost in what I’m doing. I’ve so far really enjoyed all the work I’ve been doing! Something exciting these past two weeks have been the opportunity to attend brown-bag lunches when a speaker or speakers have come in. I was able to listen to a discussion on the Global Gag Rule as well as one on the current economic state of Puerto Rico. I also had the opportunity, as part of my responsibilities as an intern, to attend an event hosted by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research to take notes. The IWPR prepared a report jointly with Oxfam a few years ago, and this event was incredibly relevant to that article; the “report investigates women’s experiences in large, low-wage, growing, female-dominated occupations, comparing demographic data and indicators of economic security between 1994 and 2014, and projecting growth rates to 2024,” and the event expanded upon the role of women in many spheres but specifically technology. There are many opportunities within my internship to attend these kind of events, many of which touch upon women’s issues, which NCI directly supports.
Something fun going on in the office is a World Cup pool! Someone has organized it and everyone that wanted to submit a bracket was welcome to. There was also a huge amount of sensitivity included in the creation of the pool. With an event like the World Cup bringing together so many countries, it’s also important to highlight that many of those countries have on-going tragedies or difficulties at hand. I appreciated that individuals in the office took the time to take note of that and comment on it, rather than ignoring it so that the pool could just be about soccer, competition, and fun. It seems that a lot of the work and work-affiliated things done in the office are handled with great care, and it makes for a welcoming environment.
I’m incredibly excited for this summer and for working for an organization I admire so much. As I enter my organization, I hope to bring positivity and an open mindedness to facilitate respect for myself and others. When I arrived on my first day I was so excited to get started, and I hope to bring that passion to work with me every day. So far, and I imagine as my time continues, there have been many exciting projects and opportunities. Although some may not interest me directly, I believe that finding an aspect about the opportunity that interests me keeps me engaged and motivated. On my first day I realized that I was the youngest of the interns in my section. The others are in law school or graduate school, and it intimidated me. I was worried that I would not meet the same degree of work that they could, and that I would potentially be received as immature or out of my depth because of my age. However, after we got into actually working, I realized that no one else is concerned with my age but rather with my abilities. I have tried every day to do my very best, and I think that has been really well received. It was a learning experience to at once not devalue myself and to also not make assumptions about others, as well as learning from others and asking questions if I feel lost. The other interns have more experience than me and are very willing to share their knowledge and expertise in areas I am unfamiliar with, and if they feel like I am more knowledgeable on a topic, they are quick to ask for my help as well. I’ve learned so much already, and I know I will continue to learn as the summer continues. There will be many more opportunities to get accustomed to new topics and experiences, and I’m looking forward to what’s to come.