"love that oozes"
Zeinab Mohamud was one of 826 MSP’s spring 2021 Education Interns. Check out her reflection on her time with us…
Why did you decide to apply for the Education Intern position at 826 MSP?
I decided to apply for the Education Intern position because I wanted to learn more about how younger kids are educated and I have always loved teaching and explaining concepts. I saw that this position included all of my passions which are working with children, writing, and nonprofit work taking place in minority communities. I also felt that working with 826 MSP would lead me to better understand how nonprofits work because I would love to build my own nonprofit organization one day.
What types of projects have you worked on during your internship?
I’ve worked on various projects mainly for the After School Writing Club. I wrote out check in questions and brainwave questions for the students and put together introduction videos for each tutoring session. My favorite project was putting together the “Bill of Writes”. It was amazing to see how the kids talk about writing and what it means to them.
Share a story about one of your favorite days or moments during your internship.
To be honest, every moment of my internship was memorable. Every single day of tutoring the kids was my favorite, but let me talk about sitting in on a staff meeting for the first time. It was an amazing experience filled with so many laughs and insight. I can see the dedication and love that oozes out from all those involved in making 826 MSP a place meant for the growth of youth and I am so happy I was able to contribute to its mission. I love being able to look at behind the scenes and understand the effort it takes to make sure programs run smoothly.
Has anything surprised or challenged you during your internship?
One thing I had a challenge with was if a kid was too shy to speak. It took me a couple of trials to learn how to communicate with those kids because since I am a shy person myself, it is difficult for me to find words to begin a conversation. With the pandemic as well, that communication and relationship can be hindered. As time progressed though, the kids seemed more energetic, enjoyed hearing me talk, and loved it when I asked them questions.
How has this internship helped prepare you for a future job?
The professionalism I gained from this internship will forever stand with me as I continue to look for more job opportunities. I can finally say my communication skills have improved immensely due to this internship, and it makes me so proud. I have also learned how to be myself and to carry a conversation with others which is crucial in professional settings. I also interacted with many kids which is the age group I plan to work with in my future career. Finally, seeing the inner workings of a nonprofit organization was very important to me because now I know I want to involve myself in these organizations who strive for greater change.
What's next for you? What are your plans or dreams for the future?
I plan to continue pursuing a MD and gain more opportunities in my areas of passion which are more health related but also travel related. I want to also continue volunteering in the community more, and possibly starting my own nonprofit work that can benefit those in marginalized communities and maybe even grow it so it can provide aid to those subjected to displacement in other countries.
Do you have any advice for 826 interns, volunteers, or students?
Have fun! 826 MSP is a bubble of comfort, growth, and positivity so definitely enjoy your time. Stay professional and communicative because it is important for the people you work with and for the students as well. Finally, open yourself up to change and to learning new things! This is an amazing opportunity to reflect on yourself and your future endeavors.
Do you have a favorite piece of student writing you've encountered this semester?
All of the student writings I have seen were each beautifully written because you can sense the personality of the student that wrote it. They were filled with such creativity and light, it made my heart swell. I like to write, but these students gave me a hundred more reasons to fall in love with it and to write more. I especially enjoy when we give them creative prompts because their imagination is beyond anything that my mind can encompass and it is a beautiful thing to see and hear.