As a third-year Arts student majoring in International Development and minoring in Communication Studies and Social Entrepreneurship, I was interested in completing an internship to gain practical experience in my field of study during the summer. Upon consulting the internships offered through McGill’s Arts Internship Office, I particularly took interest in Éduconnexion’s internship offer. Éduconnexion is a Montreal-based non-profit organization whose mission is to promote civic engagement and social justice through educational initiatives. After previously completed an internship in Tunisia over the summer, I was especially motivated to intern with Éduconnexion to gain valuable experience in my hometown and contribute to the betterment of my community.
Three other interns and I were presented with various internship roles and were given the opportunity to choose the one that best aligned with our interests and career goals. Considering my areas of study, I selected the internship role in public communications and social media management. Throughout my internship, I took on many tasks related to communication studies, such as creating and publishing social media content, creating infographics for promotional and educational purposes, designing the organization’s annual report and monthly newsletters, and other related tasks. One aspect of my internship I greatly valued was the opportunity to actively engage my creative skills. Because I was granted considerable free rein for most of my content creation and online communication responsibilities, I had the invaluable opportunity to use and refine my creativity while simultaneously enhancing my proficiency in content creation, which is a cherished achievement.
My internship with Éduconnexion was marked by many highlights. While the majority of my content creation and social media management tasks were carried out remotely, I enjoyed the occasions when I had the opportunity to go on-site to capture pictures and collect testimonies from the participants of Éduconnexion’s various projects. For instance, I had the chance to participate in Éduconnexion’s documentary project aiming to amplify the voices of adolescents newly arrived in Québec by providing a platform to share their immigration experiences, their understanding of racism, and to raise awareness about the challenges they face. This experience enabled me to extend my impact beyond regular internship duties by helping the participants write their testimonies, interact with the immigrant youth, and contribute to Éduconnexion's projects in a more impactful manner.
Another highlight of my internship has been my participation in stimulating and inspirational events and conferences. To be specific, I had the chance to attend a symposium in Montréal-Nord where experts discussed racial profiling, racism, police brutality, and many more themes and issues relevant to the residents of Montréal-Nord. I was also fortunate enough to attend workshops given by my colleagues about developing countries’ debt or learned helplessness, which I found to be insightful and from which I learned a great deal. Throughout my attendance at these events and my everyday responsibilities, I gained a wealth of knowledge that I had not previously encountered in an academic setting,
I also greatly appreciated that I had the opportunity to collaborate with other interns during this experience. Working alongside three other enthusiastic and dedicated interns allowed me to exchange ideas, gain diverse perspectives, and enjoy their support and camaraderie throughout the entire internship. I am deeply grateful for their precious presence and support during this experience.
Though I did face some challenges during my internship, such as encountering difficulties in staying motivated and focused while working from home and feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility of managing my workload independently, these challenges were short-lived and pale in comparison to the successes I achieved. These hardships were easy to overcome as they were accompanied by strong support from my colleagues and the personal growth I experienced throughout the process.
This internship has significantly enhanced my university experience by complementing my theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on experience. I gained insight into the inner workings of a non-profit organization, which not only deepened my understanding of the field of international development, but also provided clarity regarding my future career plans. Overall, this experience has been instrumental in shaping my professional growth and solidifying my commitment to pursuing a career in my field of study.
To conclude, I would like to sincerely thank Éduconnexion and McGill Arts Internship Office for this invaluable opportunity as well as Mr. Mooney and Ms. Marckmann for sponsoring the William Henry Kelly Social Work Summer Internship Award and funding this internship. Your support has greatly enhanced my internship experience and played a crucial role in my professional and personal development. Thank you for making it all possible.
