Katherine Douglas served as an ambassador for the College of Humanities and strengthened her leadership, public speaking, and communication skills.
Why did you choose this internship?
I chose this internship because I wanted to be involved with my community and college on campus. After switching majors to be in the humanities, I developed a passion for the College of Humanities. Through this newfound passion, I was seeking a leadership position within the college to help students who declare the major and explain what the humanities mean to others. I wanted to become a helpful tool students can seek regarding the college, in addition to strengthening my public speaking and leadership skills with this internship. I also wanted to work on my technical and communication skills for the workforce post-graduation while learning what it means to be a true leader.
What kind of work did you do throughout your internship experience?
Throughout my internship experience, I participated in many outreach activities directed toward high school students. I also helped lead College of Humanities events, like the Homerathon and the Humanities Seminar Award Night Program. All of these activities allowed me to step out of my comfort zone to engage in conversations I usually would not participate in. We also had biweekly ambassador meetings, which served as a time to collaborate on ideas and get together as an ambassador community.
What skills did you develop in this internship?
With my internship, I was able to develop my public speaking skills as I was encouraged to take risks and step out of my comfort zone to start conversations. With all the practice at events, I developed my interpersonal communication and active listening skills. I learned how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable during outreach events. Following great results and feeling confident in my speaking.
I also learned how to collaborate with others on a team through interpersonal communication. With a large number of College of Humanities ambassadors on the team, I learned how to engage in conversations with my peers and how to work collaboratively.
What was your favorite or most satisfying part of your internship?
My favorite part of my internship was participating in the outreach events with high school students because I could talk to students and parents about the College of Humanities and what I am majoring in. I enjoyed explaining to others what my major is and how I will use it in the future. I loved answering parents' questions to share my story and in hopes of sparking an interest in the younger students. Those were the sweet moments that made my internship experience memorable. It makes me realize that not many people are aware of what the true definition of humanities is and what it actually looks like to pursue it as a college major.
This experience was also meaningful to me because I have a younger sister in high school. She is curious about her future career paths and she is exploring all the possibilities with the support of my advice. I can imagine being in her shoes, as I was in high school feeling lost and uncertain about my future. So, being able to be a role model of a student expressing my love and passion for humanities to other students has been impactful.
What did you find challenging about your internship?
One of the most challenging parts of my internship was overhearing parents make disparaging comments about the humanities during outreach events or when some parents are not interested in listening to what the College of Humanities has to offer. Yet, I have experienced this in my personal life, and being an ambassador has only strengthened my passion and compassion for being a humanities student. It is not fun to receive such comments, but I believe it makes me stronger and has allowed me to have an open mind to the world around me. I want to be accepting of others and create a welcoming environment, which is what I will carry with me for future jobs, friendships, and other internships.
How has your internship experience influenced your plans for your future?
My internship experience has greatly influenced my plans for the future. Through this experience, I have gained a strong desire to lead in my future career. I have grown a love for leadership and the possibility of using it for change. As a result, I would love to learn more about project manager positions within the engineering field to continue the development of my leadership skills. It takes a significant amount of work to become a successful leader and I know now that I am willing to put in the hard work to do this in my future.
Additionally, I am interested in finding a future internship specifically focused on the engineering field of management. This will allow me to use my skills learned from being a College of Humanities ambassador to other fields. As I am planning on pursuing my master's degree, I hope to use the skills I learned and developed in my school relationships regarding communication, passion, and leadership.
What advice do you have for other students as they search for their internship?
Being open and considerate of all options is important to take note of when searching for an internship. Determine the skills you want to learn or develop and find an internship that values your goals for growth. Do not be afraid to ask questions and step out of your comfort zone.