Self-Advocating Intern

I think that throughout my schooling I have always been a self-advocate because of my vocal nature. I have carried this skill through my internship as well. My first day of internship, I created a flyer for the youth delegation coming from Iraq. I was familiar with the program Publisher, but I was not very comfortable with the content that needed to be included on the flyer. I was a self-advocate by getting clarification on the purpose of the flyer and working with my mentor to make sure that I understood the content that needed to be included. I wasn't afraid to take charge and ask for help as needed. I had a similar experience with my next task, which was creating a briefing document that included a country background with the goals of the program that was being created by the Citizen Diplomacy Council. I was forthcoming when asked if I had any questions. I needed further explanation on the purpose of the country background so I could tailor it specifically for the need of the document. Because I received more instruction, I feel like I completed the task much more effectively and produced a product that I can be proud of. Today, I finished a task that needed to be completed and knew that everyone in the office was busy with his or her respective projects. I didn't want to sit idle. I remembered a project that was brought up at our staff meeting last Friday and I asked my mentor if I could start working on that project. She thought it was a great idea and thanked me for remembering! I want my time at my internship to be productive and meaningful, and I know that the only way to make sure that holds true is to hold myself accountable. Being a self-advocate is the only way to truly succeed in the professional world.