Leaving My Comfort Zone: My Summer Internship in D.C.

Blog post by: Stephanie Maestri, Student Supervisor

“Find Out Who You Are, And Do It On Purpose”- Dolly Parton

This summer I was given the opportunity to represent UM in Washington D.C working for the UM in DC Program. It was probably one of the best things I ever did for myself for so many different reasons. First, let me give you some background on me.

I was born and raised in Miami, FL and have never lived anywhere else. Still living with my family and being a transfer student to UM, I never really had the “freshman experience” most of you have had. I’ve never moved into a dorm, lived on campus, or even had a roommate. Coming from a Hispanic family, it is pretty well known that you do not leave your family or roots and go elsewhere.

Well, I broke this tradition, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

For all of you interns who are now returning to UM for the exciting fall semester, you probably know how I feel right now. As I write this on my flight back home, there are a few tips I can think of for those of you who plan to venture out alone in the next year.

Tip #1: DO IT. 

Don’t think twice, just do it.  Besides the fact you are gaining excellent experience for your future (and resume), you are also going to get to know so much more about yourself. Every experience in your life is for a reason. Nothing made me more nervous than the fact that I would not be around my family and would have to independently figure everything out by myself when I arrived to DC. I mean who was going to do my laundry? ME? I will never forget the moment I opened the email telling me I had gotten the job, and wanted to scream and write back “nevermind, I’m staying here!.” Stepping out of your comfort zone is so hard, but once you do, you wish you would have done it sooner.

Tip #2: Get to know your supervisor.

Your supervisor is going to be the person you rely on for the duration of your internship. Remember that you are there to work and they are your boss, but they are also human beings and probably have a couple pretty interesting stories to tell you. They have been in your shoes before and can give you the best advice on just about anything and especially about your career path. Adela, my supervisor, became way more than just that. She was always there to help me with whatever I needed (work or personal) and gave the best advice around. HEY ADELA! MISS YOU! You will learn to appreciate your supervisor so much more when you realize they are just like you and me! Also, who doesn’t love a personalized recommendation letter?

Tip #3: Explore the city you’re in.

You will probably never be back there. Indulge yourself in the sights and wonders of your temporary home. Don’t be scared to sit at a table in a crowded restaurant and eat dinner alone or go to a movie theatre by yourself. Wherever you go, be it New York or a little town in Missouri, get to know it. Get lost on the bus or metro and learn who and what are out there. You never know who you will interact with and stepping out is the first and hardest step. I will never get tired of going to the National Mall and doing the most touristy things that make DC the amazing place it is. I also made DC my own by finding my favorite spots along the way; those are the best moments, becoming YOU.

Tip #4: Work Hard. Play Hard.

Remember you are where you are for one reason: You have a job. This is the biggest priority and needs to be taken seriously. It’s such an amazing feeling to work so hard on something and see it accepted and appreciated by others. Whether it’s the smallest things like organizing an excel sheet or having to present your marketing pitch for world renowned chefs and it be the only one they select, it still feels amazing. This is when you know you are doing it right. Give your job 100% and you will be rewarded. Nothing else I’ve mentioned will be possible if you don’t take your work seriously. What about that recommendation letter you so badly want? You wont get it if you are coming to work and not putting your best foot forward.

By the end of it all, you will wish you had just one more week to enjoy the city and your co-workers; trust me. So I’m telling you: Step out of your comfort zone, find yourself, and give 100% from the beginning and you will have an experience you will never forget.  Good Luck!

Communication in the Workplace

By Thaimi Fina

For students embarking on their first job or internship, communicating with colleagues and supervisors can be intimidating and uncomfortable.  However, mastering this skill is crucial for building and maintaining lasting professional relationships with your co-workers. Strong communication skills can also help you to stand out as a genuine and confident person at your workplace.  To emphasize this point, here are three situations where it is imperative that you speak up and communicate effectively.

1. When you need help or guidance.
So, you’re currently working on three projects with quickly approaching deadlines when your supervisor stops by your desk and asks you to take on one more.  “Sure!” you say enthusiastically.  Cue panic response.  To make matters worse you have no clue how to accomplish this project and your supervisor provided minimal direction.  OK, now we’re really panicking.  This situation happens more often than you would think and it’s important that you learn how to adapt early on in your career.  To resolve this dilemma I propose the radical solution of (you guessed it) communicating! 

Avoid burning out with a plate full of unfinished projects by talking to your colleagues and seeing if they could help.  Perhaps one of them could assist you in making progress on one project while you diligently work on another (learning to delegate is also a valuable skill to hone in the workplace).  Or maybe they have experience in deciphering your boss’s enigmatic assignments and can provide valuable insights into the project.  If your co-workers are also clueless about what your supervisor expects, I would encourage you to speak with your supervisor and ask for clarification to ensure that you meet and exceed those expectations.  Communicating with colleagues and seeking their assistance in your work shows your team members that you value their input and prevents you from becoming overwhelmed by your workload.  This collaboration could also spark new ideas, promoting innovation and producing even stronger outcomes than if you had attempted the project on your own. 

2. When you’re bored or unsatisfied.

So, the work that you’re doing has become repetitive and boring.  You feel unchallenged and don’t feel that your skills are being utilized to their full potential.  As a result, you’ve become disengaged, cranky, and you dread coming to work every day.  Now, more than ever, it’s important for you to SPEAK UP!  (Perhaps in a more tactful way than Peter Gibbons did in Office Space…)

Whenever I speak with students in our Toppel Internship Program who don’t feel challenged enough by their internships, I always encourage them to ask for more.  If you’ve had your eye on a project your colleagues have been developing, don’t be afraid to ask if there’s any way you can help!  Most people are not going to turn down an extra pair of hands because, let’s face it, we’re all stressed and a little overworked.  Asking to become involved in more challenging assignments also shows initiative and demonstrates that you are a team-player.  As an intern, there may be limitations to the projects in which you may become involved.  The interns that I always find most impressive are the ones who overcome those limitations by creating their own projects.  Brainstorm new initiatives that could benefit the company or identify ways to improve the company’s current way of doing things.  You could pitch these ideas to your supervisor and offer to take the lead on the project.  By communicating with your supervisor and finding challenging projects to keep you motivated, you will begin to feel more engaged and establish yourself as a more valuable employee.

3. When you’ve messed up.

Alright.  So that dreaded moment of imperfection finally happened, showing everyone in your office that you are indeed (GASP) human.  You missed an important deadline, you came in an hour late, or you failed to catch a significant error in a report.  Whatever the mistake was, your response is likely to be consistent: you’re freaking out.  First and foremost, my advice to you is: relax, breathe, and stop beating yourself up for it because trust me it was bound to happen sooner or later.  Once you’ve composed yourself, it’s important to deal with this incident head on.  Avoiding your supervisor or pretending that it didn’t happen will only reflect poorly on you and cause others to perceive you as immature or apathetic. 

Set up a time to meet with your supervisor or colleague in person (a phone call, text, or e-mail can all be perceived as avoidant tactics and make it difficult to deduce your tone).  Be honest.  Tell your supervisor what happened and genuinely apologize for your mistake.  Before you go into this meeting, it’s also important to think about how you can fix or improve the situation or reduce the risk that it will happen again.  Present these ideas to your supervisor to show him or her that you have reflected on your mistake and are developing an action plan.  This also demonstrates that you are learning from your mistakes and are less likely to repeat them. 

After this conversation is complete, that’s when the real communication begins.  Remember that actions always speak louder than words.  Put those words into practice.  Double check your work.  Set three alarms if you have to.  Keep better track of your deadlines by purchasing an agenda.  Whatever action plan you devised, follow through with it!  Everyone makes occasional mistakes at work, but it’s how you recover from them that distinguishes a strong employee from a weak one. 


Communicating with higher-ups will always be somewhat intimidating and uncomfortable.  However, I hope that these examples have shown you the value of speaking up and how it can truly transform your experience in the workplace.  And like any other skill, it’s not going to hone itself.  So start now!  Speak your mind in a tactful and professional way and see the difference it can make in your career.