My research internship at Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada has given me such a positive insight into a longstanding non-profit organization that has a proven track record of upholding its mission. Working in the nonprofit sector has introduced me to folks who genuinely love the work that they do and believe in the impact of their organization.
My time at JA has shown me the power of community and the eagerness that folks have to lend a helping hand. The environment within the organization helped me understand how valuable industry research can be to the overall success of the team, and through my research, I learned that some information necessary to outline strategic planning can be limited for the nonprofit sector.
Through my experience I was able to get a better understanding of how important volunteerism is in our communities, and no matter how valuable an organziations mission is, its the strong network of volunteers that truly makes the biggest difference! Having to draw creativity in how I approached my research taught me that I can think for “out of the box” solutions, and answers are out there if we dedicate to looking for them. This will help me by giving me confidence in problem-solving in my future career. Although this internship did not fit into my field of study, it did utilize relevant skillsets that have benefited me through my Psychology undergrad, like qualitative research skills, understanding life-stage development, and psychological motivators.
To be successful in this internship, I needed to have research skills, organizational skills, good time management, and be able to work independently while knowing when to ask questions. Having a foundational understanding of what research is and how to conduct it was imperative.
I appreciate the opportunity to work with such a well-known and respected organization in the nonprofit sector and although I love the work that I have been able to contribute to my professional aspirations are headed in a different direction. I will absolutely volunteer with the organization though, as I believe in their mission!
My advice for any incoming interns is to utilize the assistance from your supervisors, ask many questions, write things down, and establish a strong goal from the beginning. In order to stay on track it is super important to know what your objective is and how your research will contribute to a larger goal.
I have included a photo that was posted LinkedIn. As an organization that creates equity for diverse communities, I feel like this photo best represents the spirit of JA.
Hello Yvette,
Your Internship Reflection was truly touching and it seems that your gained a lot insight working in the non-profit sector. I definitely agree with you as you mentioned "My advice for any incoming interns is to utilize the assistance from your supervisors, ask many questions, write things down, and establish a strong goal from the beginning". Throughout my internship a valuable tool I lalso earned was the essense of communication as it can limit you or help you attain the needed information. Being that I'm somewhat an introvert I had to step out of my commfort zone as well as challenge myself to be a essential team player by: asking questions whenever I was confused, being flexible, supporting the CORE staff, and communicating effieciently as we all share a common goal. "In diversity there is beauty and there is strength" (Maya Angelou). I like that you shared this quote because my internship at CORE empasizes the importance of diversity as they ensure that all scholars and families no matter their race, class, and or gender attain the neccessary tool and resources to succeed. Overall, Yvette great post.