Take chances and don't be afraid to apply for things you do not think you will get accepted to.
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Event Operations Intern
February - June 2018 • Portland, OR
What I liked
Learning the ins and outs of nonprofit work
What I wish was different
Paid for my hard work
Advice
Pay your interns!
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Event Coordinator Intern
July 2018 • Seattle, WA
What I liked
Great people to work with, flexible schedule
What I wish was different
N/A
Advice
Always be punctual, and put your best effort in
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Summer Intern
June - August 2018 • Saddle Brook, NJ
What I liked
I loved being able to give back to an association I am heavily involved in. I spoke at many of the events and that was hugely rewarding. It is an experience I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
What I wish was different
I wish that I could have worked in the New York Office but that is ok!
Advice
Working at a nonprofit is hugely beneficial. You get to utilize an amalgam of skill sets which makes it both interesting and challenging. However, make sure if you do enter the non-profit arena you are engaging with an organization you care about because it is hard work but feels amazing at the end of the day (especially if you are working for a cause you care about)!!!
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Event Planner Intern
February - April 2020 • Seattle, WA
What I liked
I enjoyed being able to contribute my ideas to the table and see some of those bringing put into action. I was also able to inform others of the importance of stroke awareness at some events, which made me realize how much a enjoy working in a healthcare setting.
What I wish was different
My internship was cut short due to covid. Since this was a 3-5 month internship at a non-profit organization, we weren't able to put through some of the planned events. I would have loved to go back and finish, but I don't think I would have that kind of time again.
Advice
Everyone needs to be aware of stroke causes and symptoms. We don't think it can happen to us or our loved ones until it does. A healthy heart leads to a healthy future and a healthy community.
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Intern
June - October 2019 • Los Angeles, CA
What I liked
A ton of hands on work, and I got to engage and help the community one on one
What I wish was different
I wish I would’ve attended more meetings
Advice
Be outgoing and reach out to anyone, you can create a lot of relationships
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Health strategies intern
May - August 2019 • Louisville, KY
What I liked
I liked being able to see the logistical side of event planning.
What I wish was different
I wish I had gotten to work hands on with people who the nonprofit was helping.
Advice
Document all of the research you do with good organization so others can follow the work you’ve done.
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Special Events Intern
May - October 2019 • Cayce, SC
What I liked
The program was very structured and is tailored to each individual intern's interests within the organization.
What I wish was different
I wish it had been paid
Advice
This internship is as valuable as you make it. The organization is more than willing to teach you in any area they offer and the more involved you are, the more they can give back to you. So, make sure to ask tons of questions and express your desired areas of learning.
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American Heart Association Summer Research Scholar
June - August 2019 • San Diego, CA
What I liked
I was able to learn a lot of new research techniques and had the autonomy to work on my research project while also receiving guidance from postdocs and my PI.
What I wish was different
I really enjoyed my experience, but the networking and education programs would have been better surved if they appealed more towards pre-med students.
Advice
Apply early!
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Social Market Intern
September 2017 • Tucson, AZ
What I liked
I️ loved the culture of the AHA office. Everyone was so friendly and willing to help whenever needed. They treat you like a team member. I️ would 100% recommend this internship to anyone looking for a potential job, or just experience, in this field (health, community, non-profit sector).
What I wish was different
Nothing. I’ve had a wonderful experience at the American Heart Association. I️ hope to gain full time employment upon graduation.
Advice
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. This is the best way to learn. Hearing your colleagues’ experiences helps you gain a better/broader understating of what i️t is this company does and if this career would be a good fit for you.
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Development Intern
June - August 2017 • Richmond, VA
What I liked
I loved how my supervisor granted me freedom in how I got assignments and projects done. She recommended strategies that previous interns have used, but was open to new suggestions. I felt like I got to test out my own technique and compare rather than simply doing the same as previous interns.
What I wish was different
I wish that I spoke up more at the beginning of my internship for projects I wanted to work on. For the first half, I felt as though I was working on the same assignment constantly and it got tedious and boring. Additionally, I felt as though the company was not gaining anything from the work I was doing which made working more difficult and frustrating.
Advice
Be proactive and ask for more responsibility if you desire it. For many small or local businesses, employees may not be used to having interns so you are often just given random assignments to pass time. If you really want to make the experience worthwhile, come up with projects and propose them to your superiors.
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Social Media Strategist
June - July 2018 • St. Louis, MO
What I liked
I liked having a flexible schedule and all of my work was self-paced and self-directed.
What I wish was different
I wish I could’ve worked on more projects with the American Heart Association.
Advice
I would say to just make sure you have time to work on projects outside of the time you spend on site at your internship. It’s like a real job, so there will be work you have to take home.
