Since it was my last week in Ireland, I wanted to make the most out of the experience by doing some of the last things on my list. We were able to make one final day trip out to Cork which was a two hour train ride from Dublin. While we were there, we made a couple of stops including the Butter Museum where we learned about the history of the butter and dairy industry in Ireland. This was a very niche and unique museum covering topics I otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to learn about. It was especially interesting to learn about how butter was used in folk magic rituals throughout Irish history, both using it to protect land and other rituals meant to protect butter assets. We were also able to walk around the city center, stopping in various shops and stores. Finally, we took a bus to a historic castle that had recently been partially converted into an observatory. Though it was a long day full of exploring, it was a fulfilling way to spend our last weekend.
During the work week, I was able to finish up all the ongoing projects I had. Being able to fully finish them and not leave the work for the next intern they take on. The projects I finished include a policy report on pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder. While most of the report was already completed, I had to do some final edits to it and add in my citations throughout the text. This was a bit of a challenge as I had to use a citation style I had not been previously familiar with. Even though my internship was ending, I found myself continuously learning new things and developing myself professionally.
On Friday I was able to meet up with my supervisor in person one last time for coffee alongside a few coworkers who I had not met in-person. This was a great way to conclude my internship on the last day, summarizing all I had accomplished in my time there and
Afterwards I was able to visit the Museum of Irish Literature. This has been on my radar since the beginning of the trip but I hadn’t taken the initiative to go beforehand.
Afterwards, I spent some time in St. Stephen’s Green, my favorite park I found while in Dublin. I had spent time there a few times beforehand, and it was really great that I could go one last time to take it all in and relax before a long travel day on Saturday. Two months have truly gone by so fast, and I am already thinking of ways I can make it back to Ireland in the future.
Taking on an internship in Ireland rather than the typical study abroad experience was one of the best decisions I could have made for myself. Experiencing both a new place and work culture made the experience incredibly well rounded. From my experiences working in Ireland, success has been defined and measured by a sense of independence and initiative in the workplace. Because my work was remote, I was expected to perform all of my tasks independently. While I had regular check-ins from my supervisor, I had to maintain my own pace in completing my work and completing it well. In order to go above and beyond in my work, I had to take initiative on my own to make it stand out. Rather than settling for my work being completed and decent, I had to put attention and care into it to make it professional and something I could be proud to turn in. By the end of my internship, I was praised for both my initiative and passion in the work I had done in the past two months. A desire to do well at the job and have a passion for the work I’m doing was also incredibly important. Since I have been working at a non-profit organization, the workers are fueled by their passion to improve women’s health rather than striving towards financial success or recognition. Since I shared that same passion, my hard work did not end up going unnoticed. Having these similarities to my coworkers helped me fit into the work culture and succeed in my abroad internship.
