How has this experience made you consider your college path that will ultimately lead to your career?
This experience has been great, and I've learned so much that I can't wait to see put into place in my near future. My biggest takeaway from my work here that I just can't stress enough is the importance of loving one's job. I can connect this to my future career, because I want to look forward to going to work everyday, the way my co workers at the Humane Society do. Working here was so fun, and while I'm not sure if I'll be pursuing a career in this field, it has taught me the kind of community I want to find in a business environment. I can connect this experience to my future college life, because when I've finalized my career plan and I have a college internship, I'll know how to act appropriately and go out of my way to do and learn more. So ultimately, this one month internship had given me a glance into the real world, and how to be a contributing part in it.
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Internship is almost over!! The time really flew by, and I've made the best memories. For my project, I split up the four weeks into "small projects," that way I could focus on a variety of things and then tie them all together in the end towards one main goal. For my first week I started out doing "mentored trainings," where I was able to learn the ropes of the operation, learn how to interact with the animals, clean the “cat condos” and rabbit pens, and put together care packages of dog food and cat food that the Humane Society donates to people who need a little extra help taking care of their animals. This set out my guideline for how I'd be doing my projects throughout the next three weeks. For my second week I worked with animal care and cleaning, as I now had a clear idea of how things worked, I was able to begin small projects on my own. One of these was helping care for the animals by feeding them and keeping their environments clean. I learned to help exercise and socialize kittens, play gently with older cats, clean enclosures and feed all of the animals. It was so valuable for me to learn the "dirty work" that goes on behind the scenes in order to keep everything running smoothly. For my third week I was able to branch out on my own, and work with PAWS, a program organized by the Humane Society that gives pet food and other necessary animal supplies to low income families in San Diego to help them keep their pets. I worked with bagging dog and cat food, labeling it, and loading it into bins. I also helped sort the other donatable items, such as chew toys and beds. Putting together these care packaged was so special to me, because I can't imagine having to give up a beloved animal because of financial situation, and being able to help those in need with an issue I really care about was a wonderful experience. For my fourth (and final!) week here I've been working with the AdoptMe app, continuing to feature animals on the Humane Society's adoption website. It's been so fun and rewarding for me to combine the effect of social media with animals, and see the positive result that comes from it! I've seen families come in, look at an animal, and mention how they saw a "picture and story" about it on the adoption web, and I knew they were talking about one I'd put together! That made me so happy to know I was helping animals get out there and get adopted by wonderful families. These projects all taught me so much, and I'm so grateful I had this opportunity. I learned the importance of loving one's job, and the positive output that shows. I learned the importance of teamwork and communication, care, passion, and kindness. Looking over my past month here, I feel like I've really changed and my eyes have been opened to a new world I can't wait to be a part of one day. View my Presentation of Learning
![]() Helping socialize some super cute new kittens available for adoption! ![]() Lot's of animals here are still coming out of their shell, this adorable shy kitty was just adopted today! ![]() This fierce kitty was such a fun little guy! He bossed all his siblings around! ![]() Sweet bunny Anna was one of the cutest animals at the Humane Society! ![]() This little kitten was so full of adventure! She climbed higher then all her friends. Action shot of this kitty in motion! Sleepyhead!
"How have you advocated for yourself during your internship, or seen advocacy demonstrated in other situations?"
There's often a lot of down time at my internship; where I've done all there is and nothing's left for the day. So, I knew I needed to keep busy, and I had to talk to my mentor about what I could do. I let her know that sometimes even after I'd done everything she'd given me, I was left with free time and no valuable way to spend it. My mentor told me about the app "AdoptMe" where Humane Society volunteers can take pictures of the animals available for adoption and post them under the animal's listing on the adoption website, so people considering adoption will be able to get a sneak peak into the lives of the animals they're thinking about coming in to see. I've been using the AdoptMe app almost daily, and it's so fun and rewarding to help the animals get noticed! I'm really glad I learned self advocacy, because if I hadn't thought to go out of my way for help, I wouldn't be able to do the helpful thing I'm doing now. I can't believe internship is over halfway done! I've been having a great time, and I've learned so much. Right now the Humane Society is getting in new animals almost every day, and I've been able to help take care of them! I feel like I've gained so many skills, especially responsibility, during my time here, and I know that that will really help me in the future. I've also learned about the mission of the Humane Society, which is to promote the human animal bond; something I really love. At first I just wanted to do my internship at the Humane Society because I love animals, and throughout my time here I've realized so much more. So many passionate people come to work here everyday, and they're all so happy to be here and to care for the animals and help find them homes, that attitude really inspires me, and I'm so glad I got that out of my internship. I feel like I can connect my internship to school, because in both places you see the outcome of hard work, and how trying your best can really get you places.
Internship has been going so well!! I've met the cutest animals and I've been able to talk to tons of new guests coming in, which are both things that I really enjoy! I've been so happy to see the animals get adopted and go into wonderful new homes! I've never cleaned so much poop in my life, but it's worth it because it's for a great cause that I really care about. For my internship project I plan on helping get as many animals adopted as possible, and helping keep track of the new life they are going into! Since this is a really important job, I'm still settling in and learning all the different tasks that go into running an animal shelter. But so far everything is going great, and I'm having so much fun!! The skills I'll need for my internship to get in the rhythm of things on site, so I'm able to then brach out and create my own projects! To be successful I'll need help and guidance from my mentor and fellow volunteers; to help me be even more motivated to do my best work to help all the animals find loving homes!
I'm halfway through the first week of my internship, and so far it's been great! Working with Jennell has taught me so much, and I just love being around all the cute animals. Since this is my first week here, I've been learning the ropes and starting off every day with a mentored training, where I learn how to interact with the animals, clean their kennels, and put together care packages of dog food and cat food that the Humane Society donates to people who need a little extra help taking care of their animals. What really strikes me about my workplace is how kind and caring all of the volunteers and staff members are, and how their love for animals brought them all together. My colleagues are all super nice, and they've all been really helpful to me as I'm figuring everything out. I feel really good about the work I've been doing, because I know it's for a great cause! I'm so excited to be here, and I can't wait to see the projects I'll be doing in the future! This first week is flying by, and I'm really enjoying it. Stay tuned for more! I spent a day with Munchie, this cute kitty who's up for adoption at the Humane Society Oceanside!
I can't believe my internship starts in less than a week! Pretty soon I'll be heading down to the San Diego Humane Society to help take care of animals for a month! I am so grateful to have gotten an internship in an area that I'm really passionate about. I love animals and I'm stoked to be able to help care for them and find them new homes with loving families.
My mentor is Jennell, a volunteer at the Humane Society. I will be working with her in the Kitten Wing, helping to care, feed, and socialize the new cats, while learning to reach out to adopting families who are looking for a new pet. I can't wait to learn life skills here, like animal care and communications with guests, volunteers, and adopting families. I'm so excited to be at the Humane Society for a whole month learning new things and leaving with a new mindset. Stay tuned for my first day! |
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