The Calgary Food Bank

2. Knowing what you know now, what advice would you have liked to give yourself as you started your internship?

I would have said don’t be afraid to ask questions, sometimes it is easy to feel nervous, scared or silly for asking questions, but that is how we learn. In all businesses whether it’s non-profit, government, trades, education etc. everyone is working towards the same goal and if everyone is on the same page, then the entire team can reach that goal faster.

3. What is something that really stands out when you think about your time at MRU Journalism?

The sense of community is what stands out most. Not just with the students but with the faculty. It was like a close-knit family. Journalism students weren’t just students, they were recognized as flourishing journalists and the faculty was always there for us as a dependable support system.

4. How transferrable were the skills you acquired in your education?

The skills learned at MRU were extremely transferable. I have used my journalism skills, creative writing skills and my academic skills daily in my job. The great thing about the world of communications is that when you work within it, you have to wear many hats. Everything I learned in my undergrad and my graduate studies have been instrumental in my current role. Not only have the skills trickled down into my career, they have also benefited me in my personal life outside of work.

5. In your career, what type of work has most excited you, and why?

I am a people person, I enjoy learning from others and creating new experiences. Working with my colleagues and learning what they do, how their work translates into the bigger picture is what excites me most. It’s really exciting when they explain something technical to me and I am able to convey it in a visual way so that a wider audience can understand it. Any time I write stories for the company newsletter or chat and see what people are up to, I always leave with some new insight. I work in the oil and gas industry and I don’t know very much about the technical aspects of the business but I know when I engage with the exploration team or the operations team, I am leaving with knowledge that I didn’t have before. That to me is very exciting because I am constantly learning and improving myself, which then adds value to myself and to the company.

10. What is the most important but unwritten rule that you’ve learned on the job?

Always follow through on commitments and avoid making assumptions. When working with different departments in the company, it is important to keep those lines of communications open. Sustaining open communication limits the temptation to make assumptions.