Experience: The Source of Knowledge

Although I did not get to spend my summer in Washington DC for the duration of this internship, my experiences over the past several weeks have enhanced my strengths and improved my weaknesses – even while on the opposite side of this country. My time as an intern for the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs allowed me to practice different learning tactics through research and personal storytelling that further increased my educational awareness about pressing farmworker issues like child labor, pesticide exposure, and the need for better legislative action in the agricultural industry to respect farmworker rights. I also learned valuable information regarding front line recruitment for the National Farmworker Jobs Program and the importance of establishing a strong foundation of trust and support for which those farmworkers can turn to and rely on. Additionally, as an intern for NMSHSA, I became more familiar with the ins and outs of networking and telling my story in a professional setting. I learned the critical value of communication, especially during this time in which we must rely on virtual methods to work efficiently as a team. Becoming part of the NMSHSA family has been a true blessing because it is a family that challenges and encourages me to believe in my skills and the power of sharing my experiences with the world. Throughout this internship experience, I felt personal mindset growth through learning to view challenges as opportunities and turning my self-doubt into a sense of purpose. Without this opportunity, I would not have insight on the monumental effort, the length of time, and the village of people that it takes to overcome barriers in the fight for righteous legislation. I am beyond thankful for this experience because it gave me the opportunity to confidently dive into self-discovery and reflection.