Meet Caitlin – Soaking up Experiences, Events, and Virtual Connections

What are you up to these days now that you are back at University?

As a senior in my final year at the University of Washington, I am soaking up all I can in my final experience as a student. Double majoring in Communication and Education, Communities, and Organizations (ECO) has kept me busy in my studies. A major part of my student life has been my involvement in various student and community organizations, which has led to amazing leadership opportunities and the ability to engage with students, faculty and community members. 

What cool projects and activities are you working on?

Attached to my ECO major, I am partnered up with the community organization, Active Minds, which strives to guide elementary-aged students in developing emotional, cognitive, and social skills through active learning. My weekly requirements consist of creating content and curriculum, leading students through lessons via Zoom, contributing to our organization’s Instagram and Youtube channels, and conversing/emailing with parents. Additionally, I serve as the PR Chairwoman for the College of Education (CoE) leadership board where I run our organizations Instagram account, advertise community events, and create promotional content.

How have you applied the skills/knowledge you obtained during your Edifecs internship?

The invaluable skill of learning how to effectively communicate with individuals through an online platform while interning at Edifecs has prepared me to navigate both online communication in a school setting and in an organizational setting as well. Specifically, my experience planning and running various events (such as intern specific gatherings) has enabled me to successfully organize and implement virtual events for Active Minds. Additionally, learning how to create marketable content for events at Edifecs set the foundation for my current role as PR Chairwoman on the CoE leadership team.

Your internship was 100% remote during the pandemic. What was that like?

Instead of looking at a remote internship as an obstacle, I chose to embrace the reality of the format and seize every opportunity to contribute to my team. 

I did not let the lack of in-person interaction impact the experience; and Edifecs' entire program made it easy for me to be proactive and take initiative to connect with people virtually.

Share your favorite Edifecs internship memory.

My favorite memory at Edifecs is actually an accumulation of little moments working on the Events Team with Katie and Diana. I have never worked for such driven, organized, or supportive women before and this made each day exciting. I looked forward to the work I was given and the people I was able to work with because I felt valued as an intern.

Looking back, what sets Edifecs apart from other internship opportunities?

Edifecs is unique because this internship experience provided me the opportunity to interact with everyone in the organization, not solely my team.

From meeting with the CEO, to regular one-on-one’s with members from each department, I was able to connect with people from all corners of the company, and ultimately gain a well-rounded view of the people who make up Edifecs.

These experiences also allowed me to understand how interconnected and team-oriented Edifecs truly is.

What advice do you have for future interns at Edifecs or actually at any company?

Always ask yourself how you can go deeper! Questions like: How can you connect with more interns? How can you contribute more on a project? How can you gain greater insight in an unfamiliar area? Not only will this improve your experience as an intern, but you will learn more about yourself and your passions which will assist you beyond the three months spent interning.