Discovering a career path with Kyla Wilkinson: Summer Student InternshipÂ
1— What are you enjoying most about your internship?
I am really enjoying getting to have some experience in my field of study. It is the first time I am working in a job that is related to my degree and I have realized through this experience that I am in the right place and headed in the right direction. I love getting to be outside and working with children and it's really amazing to be able to have this opportunity years before I graduate.
2 — How has this internship impacted your university experience?
Through this internship I am thrilled to be receiving experiential learning credit. It's been really amazing to see how I can put my summer experience towards my degree. It has also been really cool to see how the content that I am learning throughout my degree is something that can actually be applied to the real world. Additionally, moving forward, this opportunity will push me to be more involved in different things throughout the school year, not just within the school community, but the broader community as well.
3 — What is your takeaway from this experience so far?
Through this experience I have been exposed to networking and I am learning about all the opportunities out there that I didn’t know about before. For example, I will be sitting on the Board of Directors starting in September as the youth representative for EOS. I had no idea positions and opportunities like this were out there before I started my internship. I have also been able to attend conferences and speak to like-minded people and it has opened my eyes to many pathways I can take post-graduation.
4 — What has this experience shown you about potential career paths?
With this internship I was able to attend a conference that allowed me to see a bunch of potential career paths I could follow in the environmental sector. It gave me clarity to see that I was on the right path and I was able to envision what a career for myself might look like. I have been trying to pay attention to what I am enjoying most about my internship and allowing that to lead me into the future. Before I had no idea what I was going to do after graduation, but now, through this internship, I can start picturing what it might look like.
5 — What have you learned about what fuels your fire?
I know that I want to do community level work for a career. I want to be able to see the impact of my work and know that what I am doing is purposeful to not just myself but the community around me. I also want to be doing something hands on as well as incorporating nature into my career in some way. All these things excite me and make me realize that I am on the right path!
Learn more about student internship opportunities at Mount Allison.
The internship is funded by Eco Canada and Future New Brunswick.