Since August, I have accumulated over 100 hours as an intern at Greater Richmond Fit4Kids. During this time, I’ve made connections with the organization’s operations team and fell in love with the overall mission and culture of the organization. I interact daily with my supervisors and coworkers through meetings, project discussions, and task coordination, which has helped me develop strong communication skills. I’ve also noticed my professional collaboration has improved since the start of my internship, and I’m now able to facilitate and problem solve on my own and still withhold my organization’s values. 

My duties include assisting with data collection, preparing lesson plans, supporting ongoing projects, and teaching students a variety of topics. I’m responsible for completing my assigned projects, inputting data per site, attending personal development lessons, and being the positive light in a child’s life. With these duties and responsibilities comes support, and I receive that full heartily from the entire Fit4Kids team. These experiences are allowing me to take what I’ve learned from my academic course and apply it to real-world situations, specifically in health promotion and health policy with the primary focus of community health. Working alongside other public health professionals has taught me the value of adaptability and ongoing learning. Furthermore, I’ve gained a better sense of professional expectations, including accountability, time management, punctuality, and precision. 

Overall, my first 100 hours as an intern have been great and really rewarding. I have gained so much practical knowledge and strengthened my confidence in all professional skills. Fit4Kids is guiding me to build a stronger sense of myself and the community, and I will continue to grow and take more responsibility in the next coming months of my internship.