Former Intern Feature: Robert Hartwell, Part III

This is a continuation of Robert's experience as a Technical and Vocational Education intern at RTI. Keep following us for more insights.

You can view the introduction to this series here. You can also read Part I and Part II of the series.

What was one thing about your internship that pleasantly surprised you?

The thing that surprised me the most about my internship was the level of freedom I had. On my first day in the office, when I met with my supervisor to discuss what my scope of work would be, I was informed that I could pretty much look at any aspect of the K-YES program and conduct an evaluation of it. Coming into this internship, I figured that the team would have a specific area of the program on which they wanted me to work. I did not expect there would be flexibility based on my interests.

I’ve had internships where I felt as if I was just creating more work for my supervisor. I’ve also had internships where I felt as if everything I was doing was simply busywork. But this was different. I really appreciated being able to chart my own path and conduct an evaluation on an area that interested me while also knowing it would be beneficial to the project and valued by the team.

What was your favorite thing about Nairobi (or Kenya)?

After I finished my presentation on the last day of my internship, the entire K-YES team shared a special moment together that I’ll never forget. While this might not necessarily qualify as a favorite “thing” about Nairobi (or Kenya), I will always think about this first when I reflect on my time there.

Everyone went around in a circle and shared something that they had learned from or appreciated about me, or a story about the time they spent with me. But to hear from those with whom I wasn’t as close about the impact I had on them was beyond a pleasant surprise. I was more focused on how much of a positive impact each of them had on me; how much I had learned from them; how much they had inspired me and helped me grow both professionally and personally. It’s difficult to put into words how I felt at that moment, how much that meant (and still means) to me. When I heard my colleagues share their feelings and insights, it meant so much more than what any of the results of my evaluation said (even though the results of my evaluation showed that the K-YES program was having a significant positive impact on Kenyan youths).

My favorite part of working in the international development space and traveling all over the world is the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with people. For me, the actual work comes second to these relationships. I believe that by establishing meaningful relationships with those with whom I’m working, the work we produce will be much better and the outcomes even more beneficial for the stakeholders.

I am still in touch with some of my friends on the K-YES team. We ask about each other’s families, how things are going, and how we can’t wait until we see each other again. Because we will see each other again.

Monday, we will share more from Robert and what drew him to RTI, as well as his advice for those interested in applying to opportunities offered through RTI’s Internship Program. Stay tuned!