Tabi Etten
Responsibilities
During my internship with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, I assisted with planning, promoting, and supporting community-based programs focused on family and human sciences. I helped organize educational events, collaborated with local partners, and contributed to projects related to parenting, caregiving, and youth development. I also gained experience in administrative tasks, outreach, and professional trainings that expanded my skills in communication and community engagement.
Accomplishments
My greatest accomplishment was my final project with another Extension professional. As part of Extension’s mission to provide accessible education, I was given a few presentations to fully update—everything from outdated statistics to missing resources. It was a huge task, with over 100 slides to review and revise, each needing its own updated data and citation. What made it especially meaningful was knowing that these updates would be used in real Extension programming. I was proud of the hours I put into it and felt motivated by the real impact it could have on my community.
Learning experience
The greatest lesson I learned from this experience was to never be afraid to try something new. From day one, I found myself in unfamiliar spaces—committee meetings, new projects, or events where I was constantly meeting new people. While I do regret not always taking the chance to reach out at certain events, my favorite moments came from networking with professionals who shared similar passions and career goals. Every new experience brought new people, new challenges, and a chance to grow. I walked away each time with a new skill, a lesson, or a better understanding of myself.
What advice would you give?
My advice is to say yes-- yes to a new job oportunity, yes to a club event. My fondest and most impactful memories are from times that I decided to step out of my comfort zone. Being in unfamiliar spaces is what makes us grow, and college is the time you get to fully dive into anything you are interested in.