Thank You Anytown!

2.      For your final assignment, write a thank you letter to your supervisor and/ or organization as a whole. Feel free to send a copy of your post to them as well.

I want to extend a huge thank you to the Anytown Organization as a whole. As a participant I not only gained a stronger sense of social awareness and the injustices that take place in our own society, but I also was given a network of leaders who enriched my life. Through Anytown I have made lifelong friendships that have stayed with me for years and have shaped the person I have become. I have also been connected to mentors who continuously teach me how to be a better leader and inspire me to have growth in all aspects of my life.

As an intern, I was able to gain valuable skills that will allow me to further my career once I leave. I  have learned a breadth of knowledge ranging from how a non-profit functions to how to successfully run fundraising efforts. Above all, my interpersonal and communication skills have seen a lot of improvement. Before I was a bit of an introvert, but now I am comfortable in articulating messages to a variety of audiences. I am deeply grateful for the impact this organization has had on my character.  

Most Important

1.      What were the most important things you learned from this internship? Look back to your first blog post. Did you meet your initial goals? Why or why not?

I think the most important thing I learned from this internship is that a small group of people can in fact enact change. My initial experience with Anytown was as a camp participant and I did not realize that behind the scenes of this influential non-profit was only a small group of leaders. Now, that's not to say that the organization itself is not large, because all participants are somehow part of the Anytown community.

These were my initial goals a the beginning of my internship and how I attained them.

• Learn how a non-profit can act as a catalyst and facilitator of community change: I saw first hand how even a small non-profit can make a big impact in a community. Programs like Anytown especially have a large reach because they teach others to become agents of change, even furthering their reach.,

• Facilitate workshops that instill leadership skills within young people to foster inclusion and respect among all members of society: One of my favorite parts of my internship was participating in camp and watching young leaders reach their “AHA” moments that will change their outlook on their community.

• Through community outreach, ensure that the organization has a healthy outlook for future growth: I participated in a variety of projects, such as outreach and recruitment, which I am confident will ensure Anytown Leadership Camp continues to make an impact on young lives.

Ikea

3.      Free Write: Ikea and decorating

I never know if I am more excited to go to Ikea or if I dread it. Since we moved in to our new apartment my girlfriend has been adamant about “finishing” it. Whatever that means! Apparently we don’t have enough “stuff.” So last Tuesday we went on a “quick” trip to Ikea. Who were we kidding? There is no such thing as a “quick” trip to Ikea.

She had wanted to scope out a headboard she had seen online but after seeing it in person we decided it was too cheap looking. So we instead strolled over the downstairs where there's other stuff besides furniture. Holy Crap does Ikea have EVERYTHING. We grabbed straws, trash bags, extra trash cans, and even some decorative stuff like picture frames, potted plants, and mirrors. We came home with a car full of “essentials,” and I was excited put some of the hanging stuff up. Now, I must admit that we have not finished putting some of the picture frames up but I thought we were finally “finished.”

So on Friday when I asked my girlfriend if she was happy with how our place looked, I was surprised to hear “well, its not finished, we still need a headboard and a new bedspread” I give up.