Name: Emanuel Martinez
Graduation Year: 2022
Major: International Studies
On campus involvement: Commuter Collegiate Union, College Ambassador, Orientation Leader, Pep Band, Brower Student Center Staff
Where and When did you Intern: ArmInArm (Summer 2019)
How did you hear about the internship and what was the interview process like?
I heard about the internship through my orientation leader.
Describe your role.
As an intern, I helped in the pantry by working with clients, to creating fiscal year end reports, and hands-on interaction with clients and listening to their stories.
What was an average day like?
I would work in the pantry assisting clients from 8 am – 12 pm. After that, I would work on any projects and fiscal year reports. Sometimes, I would sit in on cool meetings and work on beautifying and feeding Trenton.
What was the best memory you had interning?
My best memory I had while interning was being able to hear people’s stories and helping them. I recall this one time in June where this woman had come in and that morning her husband got hit by a car, and she was here getting food. It shows that world doesn’t stop for anyone and that she still has to be making sure she can feed her family. I empathized with her, and I tried to make her feel as best as I could. I remember how difficult it was to go home that day, especially for her. Come August, the same woman comes in and tells me everything that is going on her life. She told me that my words really helped her and she was able to do well.
What have you learned from this experience?
The most important thing I learned is that everybody has stories and those stories are meant to be heard.
What is one skill you feel as if you’ve improved upon while at your internship?
A skill that I feel as if I’ve improved upon was time management and communication.
Do you have any advice for anyone who is applying for an internship?
My biggest piece of advice for anyone applying for an internship is to keep an open mind, research what you’re going to do, and really commit to wanting to do it. Then, go have the most fulfilling and rewarding experience!