Jessica Stoelk

Responsibilities

As a philanthropy and special events intern, I supported the LSI Philanthropy Team with five projects paired with a hands-on, educational experience in fundraising, communication, and event management. I did a lot of research during this time in preparation for special event planning, impact report writing, and procedural evaluation and updating. Through this, I learned skill competencies specific to nonprofit management and fundraising.

Accomplishments

I was able to lead a fundraising event to bring awareness to the company I was working for, where I planned the location and details, made estimates and timelines, and watched it come to life in person. This was very rewarding as something I planned as an intern, with the help of my coworkers, became a real event for the company and made a profit!

Learning experience

Through my internship experience, I learned a lot about professionalism and working in a shared office space with people in various departments. That being said, I also learned the importance of taking care of yourself, getting to know your coworkers in a friendly way, and having a mutual support system at work. This makes it easy to collaborate and ask for help when needed and makes going to work more enjoyable.

What advice would you give?

This is your experience and time to explore different ideas and career paths. Don't settle for the first one that comes your way; keep looking until you find something you are passionate about and that you are excited to pursue.