I have officially been in Dublin for one full week! This past week has been long, filled with so many new experiences, people, places, and activities. I feel as though I have truly taken advantage of every second thus far. As a group, we began the week with an Orientation Day during which we had the opportunity to discuss expectations for what the next few weeks have in store as well as ask and express any questions or concerns. Later, we were introduced to some classic Gaelic sports including hurling and football. My favorite was football, as it had blended elements of soccer, basketball, and football that I loved learning about. The IIP program also embarked on a journey this past Friday to Glendalough and Kilkenny. I was astonished by the amazing views of the Glendalough mountains as well as by the small-town feel of Kilkenny and the historic Kilkenny castle. It was a great end to a long week .

While I have enjoyed this past week settling in, I am eager to get started with my internship tomorrow. I first headed into the office on Tuesday morning to meet my Supervisor. Incredibly nervous, I managed to find the correct building after a couple of incorrect tries and was extremely relieved to be so welcomed by the office and my Supervisor. I am glad to know that tomorrow I will be entering a very friendly environment for my first day. I do not know exactly what tomorrow will bring, but I am eager and excited to be challenged.

Beginning this new full time internship, will, in fact, be quite the challenge. I know that I will need to demonstrate extremely sharp time-management skills from the get-go. Although I do not know exactly what to expect, my anticipated tasks will include carrying out research, interviews, proof-reading, and introducing new ideas to the office as they may pertain to social justice, charity, family life, community, or youth issues, to name a few. The expectation will be high for myself, as I will be expected to balance this workload on a day-to-day basis. few tasks will be crucial to ensure that I do so successfully and to the best of my ability.

After learning the ropes of my internship this first work week, I will create a detailed schedule for myself that includes a list of expected tasks. It will be very important to have these tasks clearly prioritized so I can complete them efficiently in a timely-fashion. Organization is key to successful time-management. I will emulate my organizational skills throughout the school year, such as creating detailed lists of homework and respective due dates, as well as upcoming tests. I am accustomed to efficient organization of tasks during the school year, so am hopeful that I can translate those skills to my management of this new internship. I also intend to plan out each week before it begins, making sure to plan any additional tasks or errands I may have to complete around the time of my internship whether that may be grocery runs, gym time, and so forth. When I have my week planned in front of me, I am able to focus more while physically in the office, as I am not stressing about outside tasks.

Additionally, I must consistently communicate with my supervisor in order to complete tasks as they are expected to be completed. If I do not understand a particular direction or instruction, it is important that I articulate questions or concerns to my supervisor or my colleagues. It is incredibly more important voice questions or concerns about a task prior to completing it rather than completing it incorrectly. There is no shame in asking, ever. I also can probably guess my supervisor would prefer it that way as well!

I firmly believe that I will get as much out of this internship as I put into it. Some days may be more difficult than others, and some days I simply might not “feel” like going into work. It is crucial to remember that I have this wonderful opportunity to gain professional experience and work on my personal growth in the meantime. I must utilize all of my skills and resources in order to carry out my duties efficiently. Work might be tough sometimes, but I will always remember that it is worth it. I am optimistic and looking forward to what this week will bring!