This summer, I interned as the Engagement and Programs Intern at Climate Reality Project Canada. As a Political Science and Communications student passionate about the intersectionality of issues with climate change, this internship was an incredible opportunity to explore my areas of interest of sustainability, development, and climate action.
I was looking for an opportunity to develop my professional skills. I am goal-oriented, and Climate Reality Project Canada provided me with the goal to contribute to our world through long-lasting change. I learned from people in the industry and connected with others that share similar goals to mine. In the beginning, I made sure that the objectives I set for the experience would allow me to be a positive impact in the organization. My priority was to learn. I set healthy boundaries from the beginning to enjoy the experience without feeling overwhelmed. I also came to realize that rest is essential to allow personal and professional growth in experiences like this one.
Climate Reality Project Canada is a national branch of the Climate Reality Project founded and chaired by Nobel Laureate and former US Vice President Al Gore. Its goal is to educate on the urgency of the climate crisis. This is done by upholding the values of inclusivity, diversity, and equality through how citizens are the powerful drivers for reducing greenhouse gas emissions nationally. The organization鈥檚 motto 鈥淲e must change, we can change, we will change鈥� illustrates how each of us has a role to play in the current worldwide predicament.
This motto served as an inspiration throughout my experience. As an intern, I was tasked to support the engagement of Climate Reality Leaders and support the organization鈥檚 transition to the new Reality Hub platform. This enabled me to develop my computer skills as I had to keep track of the active members on the platform, create tutorial videos, and contribute to a user handbook. I was also tasked to create a slideshow presentation meant for national exposure. This task took up half of my time during the internship and allowed me to invest in my research and communication skills.
A highlight of the experience was the accessibility of resources I had for my duties. During the experience, I discovered a whole new range of ways of conducting research and of resources to get knowledge from. This will contribute to my studies and professional life in the long term for sure. A second highlight was the support I received from the team during a tough time. Both my supervisor and the team were open, sensitive, and supportive in showing their concern and their understanding. The final highlight was when I finally got to present my slideshow presentation after weeks of research and fine-tuning. At the end of the presentation, I received positive feedback and insights that made me feel valued for my contributions. I felt recognized for the weight of my research and time dedicated to it.
Taking a summer course while doing my internship was challenging. By coordinating with my supervisor, I successfully managed my time to accommodate the duties of both commitments. My advice is to communicate with your supervisor and to work together for solutions. Your supervisor understands that you are a student first and foremost. During my internship, I had to face and deal with the loss of a loved one. This forced me to set boundaries with my time and my obligations. I had to reassess my goals and I reached out for help. Again, my supervisor was understanding and accommodating. Communication is key during tough times, and I am grateful for the support my supervisor gave me.
This internship has pushed me to develop better time management skills that I will apply in my studies. Having to do a slideshow presentation of the duration of 45 minutes in 6 weeks put into perspective how much work and time goes into big projects and how this translates into my class workload at university. The experience has allowed me to understand better how I apply knowledge and which kind of knowledge I want to share with others. Lastly, this experience has taught me what 鈥榩rofessionalism鈥� is, can be, and what it should aspire to.
I received funding from the David Tarr and Gisele Chevrefils Arts Internship Award. I am eternally grateful for their funding as it has allowed me to invest in my professional experience at Climate Reality Project Canada. I am not receiving academic credit for this internship.
