Tiffany Vu: Communication and Proactivity is Key
Throughout my fellowship at the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, I’ve had the chance to learn a variety of lessons. First, is the importance of good communication. For the Family College Success Center (FCSC) in particular, there is always a lot of running around that needs to be done with multiple events happening at the same time. When I first started the internship, I had no idea where I was going, what I was going to, and what I had to bring with me. Now, however, with all the guidance I have had throughout the internship, it is almost second nature to me to be aware of what is happening and where I am needed. Utilizing good communication, I was able to develop a better understanding of what is expected of me and what I can do to help out. Knowing the importance of communication, I know that after I graduate from SCU I’m going to have to really explain to my future employers what I expect from them and what they should expect from me.
Another important lesson that I have learned from my fellowship is that my voice and opinions matter. Although I was “just the intern,” there are ideas and knowledge that I possess that can help the organization. One thing that I was able to do was to help develop code that would allow the FCSC to send out mass emails quickly. When I first started, I thought I should just do what was expected of me. After awhile, I realized that I could do so much more by trying to improve efficiency and using the skills I learned at SCU. With that code, the FCSC cut the time required to send emails in half. It would not have happened if my managers had not given me the chance to experiment and work on projects that I wanted to work on. Knowing, during my fellowship, that I was able to make a difference, I want to continue to be proactive in my professional life after SCU.
Although I focused on two important lessons I learned during my fellowship, I believe that I have changed so much from this fellowship. It has helped me grow as an individual, become more educated about the community, and helped me prepare for my life after SCU. I am incredibly thankful for this opportunity to work with the local community and open my eyes to the amazing things that are done by nonprofits and the public sector.