I am a second-year Joint Honours student double majoring in Anthropology and International Development Studies. My passion for adventure and curious disposition has pushed me to travel and volunteer around the world seeing firsthand how environmental impacts affect communities. Climate change is a pressing issue today near and dear to my heart. Like many in my generation, I feel that this issue must be addressed because we will be the ones dealing with it long into the future which is why I first joined Nets for Net Zero as a volunteer.
Nets for Net Zero is a non-profit organization whose goal is to facilitate circular economies through recycling ghost fishing gear. Ghost fishing gear refers to fishing gear that has been discarded, lost, or abandoned. Ghost fishing gear is the deadliest form of marine plastic and makes up approximately 10% of all marine debris. Their mission is to foster connections that allow the oceans to regenerate, implement innovative technologies and build communities that promote a net zero future.
I joined Nets for Net Zero because I was very impressed with their approach to addressing the problem of plastic pollution in our waters as it intersects with my love for the ocean and urgency to educate and create positive change. I believed this internship would allow me to expand my commitment in a more structured environment. I also wished to dive deeper into research and further develop my research methods by increasing the number of interviews, writing more articles, and developing professional networking skills. My responsibilities as an intern included conducting research for public education campaigns and grants, interviews, and uploading everything to our website and various social media platforms.
My internship has exposed me to various aspects in both my fields of study, primarily research and writing. More importantly, it has allowed me to witness the challenges in running an organization. I think the best thing that I have learned is that one must continue to build a solid business case around the service and products even though it may be for a noble cause. This practical aspect is something that I was able to experience while I accompanied my team on various trips to obtain fishing gear. I understand that all sides need to benefit in such a circular relationship in everyday terms. Furthermore, I feel as though I have grown both as an intern and as an individual. I have gained more knowledge and confidence which allows me to propose new projects and ideas. I am not afraid to take risks and use my mistakes as a motivation to improve.
Although my remote internship has given me an amazing opportunity to gain work experience from the comfort of my own home and schedule flexibility, it does have its challenges. I found the biggest challenge came to working remotely as it is easy to get distracted and become unmotivated. Sticking to a routine has been essential for me to stay focused and driven. When I begin to feel unmotivated, it is important that I remind myself of all the factors that led me to do this internship and everything I have and will gain from it. Because my internship is remote, I do not have a strict work schedule or a supervisor watching me while I work. However, this has allowed me to further develop my time management and organisation skills. I keep an agenda of all my meetings and upcoming deadlines so that I stay on task. Furthermore, I am learning to be disciplined. If I get distracted during my tasks, I know it is time to take a break, but when I work it is important for me that I focus solely on that. To help achieve this, I typically turn off my phone and other distractions.
I believe that my experience at Net Zero will prove very helpful when it comes to my academic studies, it has allowed me to better understand how to structure my research inquiries while facing a tight deadline. Furthermore, it has allowed me to appreciate the challenge of writing for different audiences. Much of my research has involved looking at more scientific and academic literature and finding ways of disseminating technical information to a broader audience. My experience with the rest of the team has also allowed me to gain new insight into the challenges of fostering business relationships within a vision of developing circular economies.
Although I am not receiving academic credit for the internship, I am extremely grateful to Mr. Mooney and Ms. Marckmann for the William Henry Kelly Social Work Summer Internship Award and for the financial support that have made this internship possible. Not only has this internship allowed me to pursue work in a field that I am passionate about, it has allowed me to put into practice new skills that will not only complement my future academic pursuits but which I will be able to carry forward into any potential future career.
