I was an intern in the External Relations department at the Epilepsy Society over the summer of 2022 and I had a fantastic experience. Let me now outline why.

My job was to help the Epilepsy Society expand their reach, to support their colleagues and to collect data fora campaign. Firstly, I worked on a database of neurology clinics in the United Kingdom so they could contact them and have patients be pointed in their direction. Since many medical services are overcrowded, they were working to alleviate pressure where possible. Next up, in the context of the cost of living crisis, I had to come up with ways to help the staff and their patients save money. By putting together a benefits brochure for patients and a cost of living crisis lifehack presentation for staff, my goal was to help them navigate this difficult time and allocate resources in the most efficient way. Lastly, I collected data about epilepsy drugs to aid their campaign for safer medication for pregnant people. Overall, all three projects were challenging but fulfilling.

The stakes were high as I had the power to make a difference in a field that I am passionate about. I was motivated to do the best I could because I knew that my work had the potential to make other people's lives better. I believe my work made a positive impact in both the immediate environment of the Epilepsy Society and in the lives of people who live with epilepsy. Therefore, I felt like every minute of work counted and I had a great experience. I learnt what it is like to work in a team towards the greater good and how one small contribution can positively influence the lives of many. What is more, I gained invaluable project management skills. Since I got to decide how to divide my time between the tasks, I learnt how to manage my time wisely and get work done efficiently. Moreover, having done a presentation at the executives' meeting, my public speaking and presentation skills greatly improved as well. I believe I also learnt a lot about work environments and myself. I now see that every company is just a sum of its employees, whose work is not always visible, but always essential. A good, supportive and kind working environment is more valuable than any other asset a company might own. And I am now certain in my abilities to succeed in a professional environment. While seniors should always be respected for their experience, even the youngest team member might have something important to say. I am finally confident enough to share my ideas even when I'm surrounded by people that I perceive as bigger and smarter than me. At the end of the day, the experience I gained throughout my internship will undoubtedly help me in my future career aspirations.

This blog post would not be complete without a shoutout to the people who made my time there as amazing as it was. To be frank, I was nervous about immersing myself in an office environment for the first time in my life, but my fears quickly dispersed thanks to the amazing team at the Epilepsy Society. Nicola, Nathan, Connor and everyone else - thank you for always including me in staff events and making me feel so welcome. The English Idioms Dictionary I got as a leaving present is right opposite me on my bookshelf as I am writing this blog post, reminding me of the fond memories I made with you. Thank you again.