National Intern Day 2024
In celebration of National Intern Day, we’re bringing you a blog post written by one of our very own Emerge Summer Career and Leadership Program Interns, Aniyah Davies. This year’s Emerge program wraps up with the closing ceremony tomorrow, and our interns are walking away with an incredible experience, new connections, and friends for life – proving just how valuable internships can be, particularly for students from under-resourced communities. Read on for Aniyah’s blog post!
“How My EMERGE Internship Shapes My Future: Lessons and Goals Ahead”
by Aniyah Davies, Marketing Intern with Chicago Scholars
I always abide by this quote: “Creativity is the language we use to communicate the urgency of our dreams for a better future,” by Audre Lorde. I value this quote because it emphasizes the importance of creativity in one’s career and goals as you progress. One of my many aspirations for my career is to have the opportunity to be creative in my role and to have a job that is equally fulfilling in the way that I can help others.
As an EMERGE Intern at Chicago Scholars, working within their Development External Engagement and Marketing teams, I initially thought EMERGE would simply be a way to gain research skills, experience, and an understanding of professionalism before applying for more jobs and grad school. However, as I have spent more time getting to know the people around me and developing connections, I realized that the EMERGE Internship is giving me invaluable knowledge. It is also teaching me the importance of building bonds and learning from those around you.
When I started at Chicago Scholars, it was during the busy New Scholar Orientation at Roosevelt University. Despite the chaos, my co-workers warmly welcomed me and took an interest in getting to know me. My supervisor, Morgan Mercieca, let me shadow her, helping me adjust to the new environment and allowing us to bond. Our connection continues to grow through 1:1 meetings and her willingness to offer advice. She has taught me the importance of building connections and relying on others for support.
Over the past few weeks at my internship, I have observed so much, such as the way my co-workers interact, the love they share for one another in the workspace, and the kindness they have shown me. Chicago Scholars is a place for students to gain resources before going to college and experiencing the joys of adulthood. However, what many don’t know is that Chicago Scholars also nurtures its employees, making the organization invaluable.
Through this experience, I have learned the importance of building bonds and utilizing my creative abilities to help people in small ways. The small projects I get to help with during my internship have not only impacted the way scholars interact with the organization but have also pushed me to continue pursuing my dreams. I will take the lessons of building connections, utilizing my skill set, and more as I carry them into my plans of studying in New York this upcoming spring and getting my master’s in Marketing once I graduate from undergrad next school year.