Interning is hard work, long hours, and sometimes not the most fun I’ve ever had. But its good work, it’s rewarding, and I’ve learned a few things about myself.
1.) I like working. I like being able to do my work, and then go home and relax, most days this doesn’t happen. But I have less homework, and less to worry about. It is comforting to have a really steady schedule, and I feel like I’m getting more done. I’m always busy, and there is always something to do. But there is time to do it.
2.) I’m improving my time management skills. Even though I may not have as much homework, I still have to make a good balance of my time. I didn’t want to give up all my extracurricular activities or my social life, and I haven’t had to. But it’s taken some doing to get everything done without having a late night. It’s a completely different schedule then I’m used to, I’m used to working at night and I’ve had to learn how to work effectively during my lunch break or around dinner time. It’s tough!
3.) I’m tough! I’m thriving with this challenging schedule, and really starting to get into the groove of things and find some wiggle room to really get what I want out of my experience.
4.) Being a young woman in the work place is an interesting position; I imagine it’s completely different then being a young man. It’s nice to work in a mostly female office; being a woman has advantages and disadvantages.
5.) I don’t think I will want to be working in a cubicle/at a desk all the time in the future. I think I’ll want a job where I have to be mobile and have a lot of out-of-the-office work. Doesn’t everyone want that though? Sitting a desk is exciting for only so long.
6.) I have learned A LOT about health, health policy, ethics, the legal importance of correctly filling out paperwork, and attention to detail. Lots and lots and lots of detail.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Busy-ness
Internship continues to be an enjoyable experience; a good amount of work to do, that continues to be fairly interesting. I’m really starting to get to know some of the people who work here at SAMHSA; many of them are quite interesting.
I was able to take the DISC personality assessment while I was here; we had a review yesterday that was very interesting. My results reflected quite accurately who I am as a person, and the test itself was very accurate and many rang true to what they were tested. I’m not sure that I agree with all of my description, but a few of the characteristics are: optimistic, talkative, connected, influential, and confident.
This week is pretty busy, even though I had Monday off. Yesterday I ran a bunch of errands and got a bunch of little things done, today I have WINS class and I have to write a top-line report for my research class tomorrow. (And it’s snowing/raining! GROSS!)
Tomorrow I also have my one-on-one interview to be an RA next year. I’m pretty excited for it; I would really love to be an RA. I think it’ll be a great job for me. I’m in a fashion show at work that is a sort of raise-aware-ness for heart disease. Then class after work, and then I’m going to see the Vagina monologues after that. So tomorrow is busy, busy, busy! Fortunately I get to sleep in a touch, but I’ll try to get to bed early anyways.
Friday is pretty crazy too; my uncle is coming in to town so I’m going to try to stay with him and my aunt and my cousin. I have a paper that I have to write about my tribe that I can hopefully get done this weekend; or at least have all the facts and such hammered out.
Saturday is the Founder’s Day ball, and I’m looking forward to it. I found my dream dress and I’m excited to get the opportunity to wear it, it’s very glamorous. On Sunday I’m going to hopefully have a nice brunch, and get some work done.
I was able to take the DISC personality assessment while I was here; we had a review yesterday that was very interesting. My results reflected quite accurately who I am as a person, and the test itself was very accurate and many rang true to what they were tested. I’m not sure that I agree with all of my description, but a few of the characteristics are: optimistic, talkative, connected, influential, and confident.
This week is pretty busy, even though I had Monday off. Yesterday I ran a bunch of errands and got a bunch of little things done, today I have WINS class and I have to write a top-line report for my research class tomorrow. (And it’s snowing/raining! GROSS!)
Tomorrow I also have my one-on-one interview to be an RA next year. I’m pretty excited for it; I would really love to be an RA. I think it’ll be a great job for me. I’m in a fashion show at work that is a sort of raise-aware-ness for heart disease. Then class after work, and then I’m going to see the Vagina monologues after that. So tomorrow is busy, busy, busy! Fortunately I get to sleep in a touch, but I’ll try to get to bed early anyways.
Friday is pretty crazy too; my uncle is coming in to town so I’m going to try to stay with him and my aunt and my cousin. I have a paper that I have to write about my tribe that I can hopefully get done this weekend; or at least have all the facts and such hammered out.
Saturday is the Founder’s Day ball, and I’m looking forward to it. I found my dream dress and I’m excited to get the opportunity to wear it, it’s very glamorous. On Sunday I’m going to hopefully have a nice brunch, and get some work done.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Working Girl
I am such a space cadet sometimes; I didn't really realize what all this internship entails.
It's such a taste of the real world, it's in essence the real world. :)
I was riding the metro this morning, and I realized in the middle of my sudoku that I was doing something that for so long I could not imagine myself doing. I'm working an 8 hour work day and then going to school, and I'm doing it! I'm not going to lie, I am very proud of myself. It's not as hard as I thought it was going to be, by no means is it easy, but it is within my means.
I feel like I'm going somewhere, which is a really excellent feeling.
My internship is going well for the most part, I am starting to get into more interesting work. I won't bore you with the details, but I'm doing a little more then spreadsheets and filing. Both of which are important, but still not exactly the most exciting job. But I'm really starting to get into it, and I really love the people I'm working with. AND there are free donuts for breakfast this morning. LOVE IT!
Yesterday I met with Joan Echols, who is the woman who works for Merit Awards at AU. We talked about the Udall Scholarship, which she is strongly encouraging me to apply for. I think I will, I'm not sure how well I fit into the requirements but she said that it is definitely worth considering. I don't have to apply for another 13 months, but it's good to look ahead.
We're going to meet again sometime, she has a good deal of interest in the Native community particularly because of her experience working with the Udall scholars. She was able to go last year, and she said it was a wonderful experience. The scholarship is $5,000, which is a pretty healthy chunk of change. My parents are all for trying to get a little more money, I'm not too put off by the idea either.
I'm hoping that she could possibly set me up with a few programs or scholarships, it really wouldn't hurt since I'm planning to go to grad school and my parents have offered to pay as long as I can get some help getting it. So things are pretty exciting.
Wednesday night we met with some interesting people in the WINS class, we met with Jodi Archambault Gillette and Suzan Harjo. Both women were quite inspiring, I thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to meet both of them and hear their stories. Speaking to people who are involved in the activism and politics of DC makes the process real, it humanizes the system and reminds you that the people doing this work are just people. We are not run by a giant machine, and it has been really neat to meet some of these people.
It's such a taste of the real world, it's in essence the real world. :)
I was riding the metro this morning, and I realized in the middle of my sudoku that I was doing something that for so long I could not imagine myself doing. I'm working an 8 hour work day and then going to school, and I'm doing it! I'm not going to lie, I am very proud of myself. It's not as hard as I thought it was going to be, by no means is it easy, but it is within my means.
I feel like I'm going somewhere, which is a really excellent feeling.
My internship is going well for the most part, I am starting to get into more interesting work. I won't bore you with the details, but I'm doing a little more then spreadsheets and filing. Both of which are important, but still not exactly the most exciting job. But I'm really starting to get into it, and I really love the people I'm working with. AND there are free donuts for breakfast this morning. LOVE IT!
Yesterday I met with Joan Echols, who is the woman who works for Merit Awards at AU. We talked about the Udall Scholarship, which she is strongly encouraging me to apply for. I think I will, I'm not sure how well I fit into the requirements but she said that it is definitely worth considering. I don't have to apply for another 13 months, but it's good to look ahead.
We're going to meet again sometime, she has a good deal of interest in the Native community particularly because of her experience working with the Udall scholars. She was able to go last year, and she said it was a wonderful experience. The scholarship is $5,000, which is a pretty healthy chunk of change. My parents are all for trying to get a little more money, I'm not too put off by the idea either.
I'm hoping that she could possibly set me up with a few programs or scholarships, it really wouldn't hurt since I'm planning to go to grad school and my parents have offered to pay as long as I can get some help getting it. So things are pretty exciting.
Wednesday night we met with some interesting people in the WINS class, we met with Jodi Archambault Gillette and Suzan Harjo. Both women were quite inspiring, I thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to meet both of them and hear their stories. Speaking to people who are involved in the activism and politics of DC makes the process real, it humanizes the system and reminds you that the people doing this work are just people. We are not run by a giant machine, and it has been really neat to meet some of these people.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
I'm a WINSer!
So this is a little late then never, but I'm a WINSer! The few, the proud...
My internship and the program are both well underway, it has been quite an experience so far. Details another time and another place, but suffice to say that I was ill for a large percentage of the first month. I've finally got into the swing of things, and I think I'm well suited for intern-work. I have been going though a lot of government paperwork particularly dealing with ethics, and learning about the requirements and standards doesn't hurt. It is particularly interesting with several of Obama's appointees stepping down.
The program itself has been really great, there are only three interns this semester so we've had the ability to have more intimate gatherings. In our orientation we were able to meet with interesting people from all over the city, and from all walks of life. We took a tour of the NMAI, which I thought was really beautiful. Inauguration ended up being quite the experience too, we were able to volunteer at the American Indian Inaugural Ball. It was a great way to get in and mingle and meet. Classes have also been fairly enjoyable, and informative.
Right now is just such a wonderful time to be in DC, I like to think that I know my way around and know what to expect; but right now the world is just so unexpected.
On a side note: I'm looking for an internship in Houston for the summer, does anyone have any suggestions?
My internship and the program are both well underway, it has been quite an experience so far. Details another time and another place, but suffice to say that I was ill for a large percentage of the first month. I've finally got into the swing of things, and I think I'm well suited for intern-work. I have been going though a lot of government paperwork particularly dealing with ethics, and learning about the requirements and standards doesn't hurt. It is particularly interesting with several of Obama's appointees stepping down.
The program itself has been really great, there are only three interns this semester so we've had the ability to have more intimate gatherings. In our orientation we were able to meet with interesting people from all over the city, and from all walks of life. We took a tour of the NMAI, which I thought was really beautiful. Inauguration ended up being quite the experience too, we were able to volunteer at the American Indian Inaugural Ball. It was a great way to get in and mingle and meet. Classes have also been fairly enjoyable, and informative.
Right now is just such a wonderful time to be in DC, I like to think that I know my way around and know what to expect; but right now the world is just so unexpected.
On a side note: I'm looking for an internship in Houston for the summer, does anyone have any suggestions?
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