My Practicum Experience

By: Shelby Knotts

 Beginning of my Internship

Feelings / Concerns
Hesitant; because I did not know what to expect
Anxious; being that the experience was new
Excited; to start a new journey & learn more about
United Way of Delaware
Strengths
Eager to learn, organized, determined
Weaknesses
A perfectionist, impatient, takes on a lot at one time
Getting Acquainted

UWDE has three main

focuses which are Early
Educational Success, College
& Career Readiness, &
Financial Stability. Each of
these focuses branch out into
different programs.

My focus throughout was in

the marketing department so I
helped a lot with work
behind-the-scenes.

UWDE Board of Directors are

actually volunteers.
Developing Ethical Competence

While interning at UWDE I did not come across

any ethical problems ; they do have a
Statement of Policy & Commitment of Policy in
their handbook.

Maintained appropriate professional

boundaries.
 Learning to Learn from
Experience
Step 1- Gathering Objective Data
My very first staff meeting that I sat in on I observed the whole time (also
took notes) on the upcoming outside events & what is still needed to be
done for them.
Step 2- Reflecting
It was my job to fulfill some of the marketing tasks such as prepare
pledge packets for the My Very Own Library event. I also was assigned
to clean up Constant Contact. What I took away from the meeting was
how great the marketing team works with one another & how they all
showed up well prepared.
Step 3- Identifying Relevant Theory
I was involved in the administrative role & being that I was shadowing
the marketing director for the most part, the leadership theory is crucial
because you are running a team of individuals. If that team of individuals
does not deliver on their work then it falls back on you.
 Learning to Learn from
Experience
Step 4- Examining Dissonance
Everyone learns differently & I am a visual learner. When I had been working on
Constant Contact I would need the Asst. Director to understand that I had to write
things out. I did not want her to think I was being disrespectful in any way & was not
listening to her when she spoke, but she did understand how I work well once I was
able to let her know my learning style.
Step 5- Articulating Learning
The major lesson that I took from my experience at UWDE was how a non-profit
functions successfully and that is proper communication & dedication. You also
have to speak up if you need help or are falling behind because if you are assigned
a task, it is expected to be completed in a timely manner.
Step 6- Developing a Plan
I believe as long as you speak up if you have a problem and have given yourself a
realistic amount of time the projects that you are assigned will get finished.
Unfortunately, Constant Contact is too big of a task for just one intern to complete
in only 14 weeks, so that project will be given to another individual & pick up where I
left off.
Using Supervision
What I want & need in my
supervisory relationship is
support/guidance, being
understanding, & honest.

I have maintained an open mind

throughout my internship experience
& I believe that is what allowed me to
gain the most out of it.

The only challenge that I ran into was

the lack of touching base either
weekly/biweekly with my supervisor.

I was fortunate enough to shadow &

work with the director of
marketing/director of community
engagement so I have gained a lot of
skills from how she ran a team of
individuals.
 Communicating in Your
Internship

My Experience:
I have a lot of experience working with young children
in a school setting, the elderly in a nursing home
setting, & currently an administrative setting.
During my internship I feel that I communicated very clearly
& actively listened to what was asked of me.
I do need to improve on communication when there is a
conflict because I tend to shy away when there is conflict.
Developing Cultural Competence

Culturally Difference Encountered

I attended a Turkey Food Drive to help those families
who could not provide a Thanksgiving meal for their
family.
My Very Own Library- a program run for those children
whose parents cannot afford to buy them books.
LGBTQ Pride Council
Writing & Reporting within Your
Field Agency

Documents that I worked

Constant Contact Cleanup
Friendraiser Flyer
Giving Tuesday Campaign
Annual Campaign
Research all new Expo Materials & Suggestions
 Taking Care of Yourself

External Stressors:
Computer system issues that make you push your work back
Unhappy employees/clients
Unrealistic deadlines
Internal Stressors:
Lack of sleep
Failed outcomes/goals not met
Worrying about deadlines
To relieve myself of stress in my life I enjoy going to the beach,
relaxing at home with my family watching a movie, or going out to
a nice dinner.
Ending Your Internship

What I most appreciated about my

internship experience was the staff that
I had an opportunity to work with.

I never felt like I was just an intern

and truly felt like I was a part of the
UWDE family.

My feeling towards leaving my

internship was a huge sense of
accomplishment.

To continue my personal & professional

growth I feel that I need to brush up on
my interviewing skills & give myself
enough time to search for potential
jobs.
Planning Your Career

Short-Term Goal
I am not in a rush to find a
Full-Time job within Human
Services so I want to
carefully take my time & find
a job that I feel suites myself
& my growing family.
Long-Term Goal
Have a solid foundation at a
job working in geriatrics or
adoption and possibly
further my education.