Getting Involved: A reflection on my internship at WFBoston
I’m Milena Harned, and I have had the opportunity to work as an intern for the Women’s Foundation of Boston this summer. I am a rising high school senior, and in seeking out my first summer internship, I found that the Women’s Foundation of Boston aligned most with what I value and what I was looking for in an internship.
I was struck by the gap in philanthropic initiatives geared towards women versus those geared towards men, and this information further led me to pursue this internship. I am so grateful to help my community in Boston and to support women and girls in need.
Why were you interested in interning with WFBoston? What about our mission resonates with you? Please refer to specific examples and research where possible.
Having grown up interested in STEM, I’d always noticed that I was one of, if not the only, girl in my math and science classes and extracurriculars. This experience led me to want to support other girls in pursuing their interests and growing into strong women.
In searching for internships for this summer, I wanted to give back to my home community in Boston, and after looking at multiple options, the Women’s Foundation of Boston stood out to me: it provided me with the opportunity to both support women and girls and to do so in Boston.
My mother was involved in various nonprofits such as Project Bread when I was younger, so I learned the value of supporting a nonprofit and by extension an underserved community. Because of this experience growing up, I was excited to work for a nonprofit as well.
WFBoston’s support in funding programs supporting girls who struggle with the intersectionality of sexism and financial difficulty spoke to me, and getting involved with WFBoston gave me the opportunity to work on these areas of interest and build connections within the nonprofit community.
What has your internship experience been like thus far? How do you feel you’re making an impact? Specificity is encouraged, however, please do not disclose any internal information.
As a rising senior in high school, this internship is the first I participated in. I have met so many female leaders in the nonprofit sector who inspire me to work hard and be my best self. I have had the chance to learn what it is like to work for a nonprofit, and this opportunity enabled me to consider the option of working for a nonprofit in the future.
I have been able to be on a team preparing a fundraising event, in which I use my experience with technology and coding to build a platform to facilitate donations, tickets, and auction items for this event.
It has been rewarding to know that my efforts will help fund organizations geared towards supporting women and girls; this knowledge has also been motivating for me, since I feel like what I’m doing in this internship is valuable and has an impact.
How has your educational background or prior work / volunteer experience prepared you for this internship? We welcome any specific callouts to other nonprofits or organizations.
I was a member of Girls’ Angle, a math club for girls, in middle school, and working within a community of girls on a subject I am passionate about pushed me to consider getting involved with other organizations that focus on girls and women.