Reflections on a transformative experience
My internship at Duurzaam Utrecht 2030 was a truly transformative experience that offered deep insights into the complexities of promoting sustainable living within the rich diversity of a city like Utrecht.
When I started my internship, I was not sure of what to expect and the experience turned out to be far more hands-on and practical than I had anticipated. My biggest takeaway was that sustainability goes well beyond policies and technologies: it is actually deeply rooted in the daily lives of people and their unique circumstances. This experience reinforced my belief in the essential connection between scientific understanding and societal impact. As a matter of fact, one of the most satisfying aspects of the internship was seeing how our findings could potentially inform future initiatives and policies. It was extremely rewarding to know that the work we did could contribute to making sustainable living more accessible to everyone in Utrecht.
Additionally, the internship provided me with the opportunity to engage with many of Utrecht's (sustainability) initiatives and actively participate in them. Coming from a small town, I was amazed by the number of sustainability efforts happening in the city and the dedication of the people involved. What genuinely surprised me was that most of the participants were not young people or students, as I had expected, but rather older individuals who are deeply committed to sustainability and their community.
Overall, I am truly grateful for this experience, as it provided several avenues for growth, both personally, by enhancing my communication and organizational skills, and professionally, by offering new connections and fresh perspectives on the field of sustainability. I want to thank Ineke for this opportunity and for the inspiring work she is doing!
I really hope all future interns will have the same enlightening experience I had and make the most out of this opportunity. Here’s some advice based on my experience:
- Don’t hesitate to ask questions, even if they seem basic. The more you understand your tasks and the work of those around you, the better your contributions will be. Most people are more than happy to help you out and share their knowledge.
- Don’t get discouraged if progress feels slow and things take longer than expected. Don’t be afraid to follow up or explore a new approach if needed.
- Make an effort to connect with others as much as possible. I discovered that people are a treasure of knowledge and experiences (especially when coming from a different background than yours), which can be incredibly valuable for your research and enriching on a personal level.
- Stay flexible because sometimes things do not go as planned, and that’s okay. Unexpected changes could open the door to new opportunities.
Good luck!
