During my internship with the Dodge City/ Ford County Development Corporation, I learned so much. Before my internship, I didn’t know what the Development Corporation did or what I would be doing there. My first week was very overwhelming, but not in a bad way. We would go from one meeting about one topic straight to another meeting about a completely different topic. We were definitely always on the go during my internship. Once I got used to it, I had a lot of fun and I never got bored.
The girls that work at the Development Corporation were so much fun to work with. We always said good morning to everyone as soon as we walked into the office. There was just an amazing atmosphere at the office and work was something I looked forward to every day.
Some of my tasks as an intern were to make copies, phone calls, flyers, brochures, Facebook posts, and post to our Dodge City Has Jobs Website. I went to a training during my internship that was about how to most effectively market your business. This training helped me tremendously because I did a lot of marketing during my internship. Making flyers was one of my favorite tasks that I had because I got to use my creativity.
I had a few big events that I took a part in. One of these events was a Kansas Department of Transportation Highway Project Announcement. This was put on by the governor. I actually got to meet the governor and tell her about my internship. This was a challenge for me because I get nervous talking to new people, but overall I am so glad that I got the opportunity to meet her. We hosted a lot of luncheons over the duration of my internship. These were a great opportunity for me to learn about the different educational programs coming to Dodge City through different four-year colleges. I also attended a couple of board meetings. These were great for meeting new people and networking with people around my community.
Some challenges that I faced during my internship were speaking in front of people, accepting criticism, and introducing myself to new people. I get really nervous when I have to speak in front of a lot of people, so when I heard that I had to do a Harvest Ceremony, I was not looking forward to it. After my Harvest Ceremony was over, I realized that it wasn’t that bad and that I shouldn’t have been so nervous. I had to accept critisism a lot during my internship. Sometimes I would make flyers and think that they were great, but then someone would tell me that it needed a lot of changes. I would accept that critisim and fix it to what was needed. Introducing myself to people that I didn’t know was very nerve racking, but I did it so many times, I feel like I am a pro now. These challenges made me a better person by the end of my internship and helped me grow.
Lastly, I have met my three goals for my internship. The first one was my communication goal. This goal was to have good communication with the people that I work with. The second goal that I set for myself was my leadership goal. My leadership goal was to be in charge of something and lead others. I definitely met this goal with my community service. My last goal was my networking goal. I wanted to network more in my community and meet new people. I met so many people and made great connections. I have met every goal that I set for myself at the beginning of my internship. The internship was an amazing experience and I am so thankful for the opportunity!
