It’s hard to believe how fast this program is flying by. It feels like just yesterday that I arrived in Dublin. This past week I had a lot of fun (again) and also another week of working, although I do enjoy my work. On Monday I just had work and didn’t really do much fun. On Tuesday, I had a great long conversation with my friends after work, which was nice. On Wednesday, we went into Dublin and had a nice dinner. On Thursday, I unfortunately stayed up to watch the Presidential Debate. On Friday we went out in the town. Then on Saturday and Sunday we took a trip to Galway. Galway is such a cool little town. There are buskers everywhere, and a lot of them are really talented. There are street markets as well that are great to walk through. The hostel we stayed at was also a really cool place as well. This trip was also so hilarious. We never stopped laughing, which is so fun to do with your friends. On Sunday we took a day trip to see the Cliffs of Moher, which is always an amazing thing to see. That was my second time there. It was also nice to have a more relaxing trip instead of a trip to a different European country. This next week I am looking forwards to going to Barcelona, as well as more fun to be had in Dublin.
I have developed a ton of my soft skills since starting at my internship. One soft skill I have noticed has grown considerably is my ability to ask questions. I used to be very afraid to ask questions for fear of being looked down upon, but now I am able to ask a million questions and not feel judged at all. I have learned that the people above you will be happy to help answer your questions and guide you along the way. My communication skills in general have also improved. Another soft skill that I have developed is my attention to detail. I often have tasks that have many steps so I am required to follow along carefully and make sure that I do not mess one up. Another soft skill that I have developed while being here is how I think about politics, because now I think of it less from an America-centric point of view.
Another significant aspect of my soft skill development is teamwork and collaboration. Working closely with a diverse group of colleagues has taught me the importance of listening to different perspectives and incorporating them into a cohesive plan. This experience has shown me how to balance my ideas with those of others to achieve a common goal. Additionally, I have improved my time management skills. Balancing various tasks and deadlines at the internship, while also making time for social activities and personal development, has required me to become more efficient and organized.
On the hard skills front, I have developed added proficiency in different computer programs. One thing that I have learned to use is Lotus Notes, which is a program used by politicians to keep track of their constituents. Another thing that I have gotten better at using is Outlook, which I have to use to access Deputy Durkan’s emails. A third thing that I have become better at is actually WordPress, which is ironic because I am currently using it to write this. Those are the main hard skills that I will take away from this internship.
Additionally, my research skills have been sharpened significantly. I have had to delve into various topics, gather relevant information, and present my findings in a clear and concise manner. This has involved using both online resources and physical archives, improving my ability to quickly and efficiently find the information I need. I have also been able to improve my public speaking skills. Presenting my research findings to my colleagues has helped me become more confident and articulate when speaking in front of a group.
Overall, my internship experience has been incredibly enriching. The combination of soft and hard skills I have developed has prepared me well for the future. I feel more confident in my abilities and ready to take on new challenges. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had and the people I have met, and I look forward to applying what I have learned in my future endeavors.
