Throughout the entirety of my externship I was given a lot of tasks to complete and things to do. I think the way I measured my success on the tasks I was given was very simple really, I just waited for my mentors reaction. If she was pleased she would express that to me and thank me for doing it and if there was something she wanted me to fix, she would let me know what it was and I would redo it quickly and efficiently. I think that even though I didn't do a huge, elaborate project, I still had a meaningful impact on the classroom because of all the little things. I feel as though I came in at a really good time because she had to do assessments and get ready for open house and I was pretty able to be her second pair of eyes and arms while she was busy getting important things finished. I also think I had a meaningful impact because of the relationships that I made with the kids. I really got to know them each individually and they began to trust me. I will miss them so much.
In regards to my own work ethic, I always knew that I was a hard worker and that I would try to complete anything I was given to the best of my ability but I think that this internship really showed me how I manage multiple tasks at once and prioritizing. Which will be a very important skill for me in the future. I will admit, at first it was a little overwhelming because I wanted to make sure everything was perfect before moving onto the next task and I sometimes worried that I wouldn't get everything done. Eventually I got better at prioritizing things that needed to be completed sooner and things that could put aside until later or even possibly another day. Whatever the case, they all got done and I know my mentor was very appreciative of not only the work I did but also my work ethic to do it.
Like I said in my last post, I'm not really sure what path my life is going to take. (Is anyone?) But the one thing this internship did solidify for me is that I want to work with kids. Whether it will be as a teacher or as a psychologist, we have to wait to find out. But I am really grateful that I got this opportunity and I enjoyed it so much. I am glad that I got to work with a mentor who really took to me right away and made me feel comfortable in her classroom, that the location was somewhere that I knew and that I really was able to put these four weeks to good use. It was an experience that I will never forget.
In regards to my own work ethic, I always knew that I was a hard worker and that I would try to complete anything I was given to the best of my ability but I think that this internship really showed me how I manage multiple tasks at once and prioritizing. Which will be a very important skill for me in the future. I will admit, at first it was a little overwhelming because I wanted to make sure everything was perfect before moving onto the next task and I sometimes worried that I wouldn't get everything done. Eventually I got better at prioritizing things that needed to be completed sooner and things that could put aside until later or even possibly another day. Whatever the case, they all got done and I know my mentor was very appreciative of not only the work I did but also my work ethic to do it.
Like I said in my last post, I'm not really sure what path my life is going to take. (Is anyone?) But the one thing this internship did solidify for me is that I want to work with kids. Whether it will be as a teacher or as a psychologist, we have to wait to find out. But I am really grateful that I got this opportunity and I enjoyed it so much. I am glad that I got to work with a mentor who really took to me right away and made me feel comfortable in her classroom, that the location was somewhere that I knew and that I really was able to put these four weeks to good use. It was an experience that I will never forget.