As a recent college graduate, it’s a pretty standard thing to do an internship. A lot of people my age do internships to get experiences in various different fields that they are interested in possibly working in one day. It’s really not a rare thing.
What is rare, however, is to find the perfect internship. And let me tell you- I can say, without hesitation, that my internship experience with Shutaf could not have been more perfect. From the work I was doing to the people I was working with, everything was simply awesome.
Here are my top 5 reasons why Shutaf was such a perfect internship:
1) The staff at Shutaf is top-notch. I had the experience of getting to work with some really inspiring people, who all have such a passion and dedication to the work that they do day in and day out. I remember coming to the first staff meeting on a Tuesday morning and being a bit nervous. How do I suddenly incorporate myself into this organization that is already running so smoothly without me? My fears were relieved from the very minute the meeting started, as everyone on the staff was so welcoming and eager to hear my opinions on various topics.
2) My big project at Shutaf was so much fun and so rewarding! I had the chance to coordinate, for the first time, a team of runners to run in the Jerusalem Marathon in support of a more inclusive Jerusalem. It was a big task, but I was excited for the challenge! I’ve often heard friends complain that at their internships they weren’t given substantial, long-term projects. This certainly wasn’t the case for me!
3) Flexibility. As someone traveling in a new country, participating on a Masa program, and dealing with lots of constant schedule changes, flexibility was crucial. And at Shutaf, I found from the start that the staff was, thankfully, so flexible. I worked most directly with Elizabeth, the Director of Outreach and Education, and she always available by phone, email, text message, you name it! If I had a work conflict, she helped me figure it out. If I needed to come to the office a bit late she happily said “no problem” with a smile.
4) The kids and teens and Shutaf are simply awesome. I’m really going to miss seeing their faces every Thursday (and sometimes Tuesday) afternoon. Even with my limited Hebrew, they were eager to engage in conversation, learn more about me, tell me about their weekend adventures. They’re really just a great group of kids, each with such unique personalities. So full of life, so enthusiastic and willing to try new things, even things that may be scary and difficult at first.
5) Shutaf, as an organization, has the power to change the world, and I really do mean that. As I’ve said so many times to so many different people, Shutaf is a model of inclusion for the entire world. Read about Shutaf, visit the program, hear from volunteers, listen to personal stories and you’ll be amazed at just how flawlessly Shutaf works. I’ve learned so much from Shutaf and now’s the time for me to pass it on.
By Rebecca Cushman, Shutaf Intern