Ava Reason

Responsibilities

During this internship, I had responsibilities involving multiple branches in the company. I helped with logistics and communications for a conference with over 160 attendees. For this, I used technology for ticketing for the event and sent out emails and other communications with information and invoices. I also helped write briefs and other informative documents for the speakers and volunteers working the event. I also worked alongside the policy and advocacy team on a research project that will be used for advocacy material. I mined data for good practice examples of organizations doing ethical and impactful work in the education and justice field. I also created documents and infographics for more digestible ways of using the data.

Accomplishments

My greatest accomplishment was my flexibility in adapting to such a new experience. This internship was in Dublin, Ireland, which was a city and country I had never been to, let alone lived in. I am so proud that I was able to navigate the city, learn a new workplace culture, and have the curiosity to ask questions about a field that I have no previous experience in.

Learning experience

The greatest lesson I learned from this experience was the importance of creating an environment that is capable of having difficult conversations in the helping profession. When working with marginalized groups and one-on-one with vulnerable people, there is not a lot of space for mistakes. You have to be able to have those hard conversations with clients and coworkers to get good outcomes working within a system that doesn't provide very much grace. Being in a work environment that is able to have its mission and vision set clearly and not shy away from the steps needed to achieve change is so important.

What advice would you give?

Talk to your professors and faculty! Every amazing opportunity that I have been afforded in this major has been through making connections and learning from the awesome staff and faculty in CHHS and HDFS. I genuinely feel like I haven't met a single person working for ISU involved in the HDFS department who is not rooting for the best for all the students and will go above and beyond to help us achieve our dreams. I have received opportunities I never thought myself capable of because of the staff listening to my goals and keeping an eye out for me. So please go to office hours and ask your professors about their interests; it'll teach you so much!