After a sedentary week spent waiting for my foot to heal, I was starting to go a bit stir-crazy. Throughout the week, I gradually increased my step count, being careful not to disrupt the healing process. I walked around the neighborhood on Friday, went grocery shopping with my host mom on Saturday, and ended the weekend with a visit to the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum! While I may have fallen short of my initial goal of one museum a week, I still intend to visit eight museums before the end of my time in Madrid. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Thyssen, but I was pleasantly surprised by the mix of media and range in time periods. The exhibits hosted a variety of sculptures, photos, paintings, and even the occasional video. As we traversed the different floors, we saw pieces ranging from Renaissance portraits to American pop art. I even got to see my first (two) Van Gogh paintings in person! Afterwards, we went out for some evening patatas bravas, a dish that has quickly become my go-to order in restaurants.
Accidental Promotion: An Informal Guide to Leading Interns
I thought that working in Madrid for these past five weeks would mean I had settled into a routine, but if anything, I find myself needing to adapt more each day in the office. While working at Fundación Esperanza y Alegría, I have taken on an unexpected leadership role. This would have been a strange thought on my first day, absorbing a whirlwind of new faces and information, but as some students have finished their hours and others have slowly filtered in, I have somehow become the most “senior” intern on board.
Before this internship, I had no formal experience leading in a work environment. In my previous jobs, I had always been the youngest on board and followed the lead of my supervisors. Even in school, I am usually the kind of person to take charge in a group project only when I notice that no one else seems eager. From what I’ve seen, the worst group dynamics result from someone charging forward without regard for what others say, so the greatest thing I prioritize when leading is listening. I avoid framing my approach as the best option and am open to advice and improvement. That being said, I will still realistically compare the pros and cons of two decisions. I have been adopting this same general leadership style during my past few weeks in Spain.
Whenever a new intern arrives, the first thing I do is try to enter the mindset I was in on my first day. What things did I wish I had known from the start? What made me the most nervous? Just this morning, a new intern joined us from France (bringing the total languages spoken in the office up to four!). After introductions, I made sure to bring her up to date on the project we were working on and checked that she had access to the shared Excel sheet. It felt a bit strange to give instructions to someone older than me, but it reminded me that being a leader isn’t solely about age. It’s about mutual respect and collaboration.
I often advocate for the other interns and ask questions on their behalf, remembering how intimidating it was to walk into a room full of supervisors during my first week. I also empathize with the feeling of worrying about asking too many questions, and I don’t mind setting an example by showing that it’s okay to ask whatever they need, whether it be which category an invoice falls under or how to operate the coffee machine. While I support the interns in many interactions, I also try to push them out of their comfort zones. When the phone rings, I have noticed that everyone freezes up instantly, afraid that they’ll be the one that will have to pick up the call. This task usually defaults to me, but considering that some of them have already been here for a few weeks, I decided it was time to give them some encouragement. I walked them through a general script and left a notepad and pen near the phone, explaining that starting tomorrow, I would not be answering calls for them anymore. I also invited them to put the call on speaker if they felt nervous.
I have been working hard to ensure that I take full advantage of my time in Spain, and I want to make sure that the other interns are getting the most out of their experience as well. Although unexpected, I have enjoyed this informal “promotion” and the opportunity to connect further with people across the globe!
