Top Five Ways to Rock Your Internship!

By Gabrielle Motilal, Trinidad and Tobago

I am a proud young woman in STEM from Trinidad and Tobago.  At present I am completing my final year at the University of Florida as a master’s student in materials science and engineering. I was awarded a Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship by the US Embassy, sponsored by the US Department of State and coordinated by the Institute of International Education.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physics with a minor in materials science. I also won the Head of Physics Department Research Prize for pioneering research in radio astronomy. After switching gears to engineering upon discovering my passion for solving problems and applying scientific knowledge to build improved devices, I dedicated myself to the field of renewable energy and recently landed my first regional energy internship with the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, also known as CCREEE, an institution of CARICOM. It’s a pleasure to share with you my top five ways to rock your internship experience.

 1—Believe in Yourself!

Believing in oneself is crucial when pursuing a career in the energy sector. It’s natural to feel discouraged by the difficulty of getting into this field, but it’s important to keep trying and believing in yourself. Confidence is key to achieving great things and making a positive impact. Failure is a natural part of the journey but should not stop you from pursuing your dreams. Do not fear failure; if it comes, use it as a learning opportunity, embrace it and learn from it. Remember to think and dream big and take baby steps to make your dreams a reality. You’ll get there before you know it. I did. You can too.

2—Expect Challenges!

It’s important to remember that things don’t always go as planned, and it’s completely normal to encounter challenges along the way. The good news is that you have a support system in place. If you find yourself in a bind, reach out to your supervisor or a member of the team for advice and assistance. They may even have connections or resources to help you overcome hurdles. Additionally, it’s a good idea to manage your expectations and plan accordingly so that you can effectively accomplish all your tasks regardless of any challenges that may arise. Remember, there’s always a solution. With the right mindset and support, you can overcome anything.

 3—Ask Questions!

Asking questions is a fantastic way to obtain knowledge and understand things better. If you’re struggling to comprehend something, even after conducting your own research, it’s perfectly acceptable to ask respectfully about it during your weekly meetings or via a message on Teams. Your fellow interns can also provide valuable insights. However, many people feel that asking questions implies a lack of knowledge or that they’re bothering others, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I prefer to view it as a demonstration of interest, engagement, effort and a desire to learn and improve. Furthermore, it highlights your humility and willingness to develop into a better version of yourself. It’s important to remember that no one is an island. The questions you ask will often also serve as a learning experience for others. You can learn something from others, and they can learn something from you. You can establish stronger relationships and make an enduring impression by challenging and supporting one another.

4—Form Connections!

You should strive to make meaningful connections. Why? Well, not everyone will like you and that’s how the cookie crumbles in life but, by that same token, there will be a lot of people who will see the star that you are and love your personality as well as work ethic. It’s important to reach out to the people you work with and let them know you’re interested in pursuing employment in the particular field so that they may recommend you for jobs in that sector in the future. Use LinkedIn to network! Connect with the weekly presenters, fellow interns, past interns, supervisors and stakeholders. Remember to thank everyone once your internship has ended. And be sure to add me on LinkedIn if you read this!

5—Be Patient!

Rome wasn’t built in a day. An internship can sometimes feel slow when data takes a while to pour in, but this is a great opportunity to connect with your colleagues and follow up with stakeholders. You can also get to know your fellow interns and learn about their backgrounds. We are all part of one region and can learn much from one another. So please make the most of this experience in whatever way is meaningful to you, and don’t forget to enjoy it!