ARTICLE
My Experiences at the Chamber How I started During my Junior Year at Kathleen High School, I was fortunate enough to participate in a Dual Enrollment program that was given to select students by Polk State. The course that I was able to take covered Business and Entrepreneurship. Through this course, I had the opportunity to accept an internship at The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce. While being there, I have learned so many things, not just about the Chamber but about my community as well. During my stay at The Chamber, my eyes were opened up to a new world. I have learned many new things and gained different perspectives on the different aspects of business. I was able to attend events like Biz Bash, which I wrote a blog on. I attended the first ever Women in Business Council meeting, which is a nonprofit organization that focuses in assisting woman entrepreneurs. I was also able to shadow some of the amazing staff that works in the chamber. Attending events Attending Biz Bash was a surreal experience for me. I was ecstatic to see so many businesses showcasing what they have to offer and what their businesses are about. The amount of people who showed up to support was amazing. I had a great time talking and socializing with everyone. I’m glad to have also been able to share my experience with my family who were able to attend. Furthermore, I attended The Women in Business Council meeting that ended up having a big turnout. During this event the Chamber was filled with skillful and hardworking ladies sharing more about themselves and their business. Having the privilege to participate and support them made me feel like I could one day be as important as they are. I met and heard wonderful and dedicated stories about what it’s like being a woman entrepreneur. One of my favorite parts while taking the internship was being able to sit in during meetings. I had the pleasure to sit in on the Lakeland Chamber’s Chamber Champions meeting, where I met various small business owners around my community. In those meetings, members would talk about what had been going on within their businesses. I could have never imagined not only the hardships that could come with running your own business but also the amazing moments you see when you succeed. In addition, I sat in on a meeting with Prospera, which is a business that I've found the most interesting this summer. Prospera is a nonprofit organization that specializes in providing bilingual assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs who are trying to establish or expand their businesses. Considering that my family and I are Hispanic and both of my grandmothers originate from Spanish countries, it was refreshing to see people advocating for that community. I want to mention one of the hardworking staff of the chamber, my supervisor Takiyah Dixon. Takiyah is one of the most patient and dedicated women I havemet. She strives for greatness. While being under her wing, she made me feel comfortable and confident in my work. Takiyah has taught me to not only to try my best but to never feel ashamed to ask for help when needed. With her guidance this summer, I have learned so much and met so many great people. I have never been so involved in my community as I am now and I am glad to take this experience with me as I near the end of my internship. Some things I’ve done Over the course of the Internship, I have done many things ranging from transferring data, sitting in on meetings, and answering calls. One of the assignments that I am most proud of is writing my first blog post. I had written a blog on the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce Biz Bash Event that I attended. I had never done a blog before, so I was unsure on how the result would look. While writing, I found myself getting stuck because at the time my only goal was to impress anyone who read it. After some time, I realized that my writing was best when I wrote what I truly thought. When I was finished, I was proud of what I wrote and how I presented the event. When it was published to the Lakeland Chamber website, there were no words to describe how accomplished I felt about myself. I also developed a Business Plan on The Education Committee. This project was definitely a challenge. I had to put myself in that mindset of what I would do if this was my business. This assignment took me a little more time than others, mainly because I had never done anything like a business plan before. I had written so many notes, I did a lot of research and had even rewritten the plan numerous times. Eventually, I had finally gotten to the point where I was happy with how it turned out. It wasn't my finest work, but I tried my best and that is what mattered to me the most. Challenges I’ve faced Although, I had a positive experience as an intern, there were some challenges that I faced. The biggest challenge that I had faced was being fearful in my work and what I had to offer the chamber as a high school intern. I would be hesitant to present any assignments that I had done because I had a fear that they weren’t good enough. Only when I completed my first blog did I become more comfortable and confident in what I did. Another challenge I faced was my shyness, especially when attending social and networking events like the Women in Business council meeting. I would be frightened that I would make a fool of myself or say the wrong thing. Even when answering calls, I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to help who was calling or that I would give someone the wrong information. Of Course, I'm still not the best at more social but with the reassurance and support from Takiyah and all Chamber staff, I was able to feel more comfortable. My Advice for you This internship was a wonderful experience for me. I took in plenty information and had great opportunities. To any student or young adult who is unsure about taking an internship or doesn’t feel as though it will be fun, I deeply suggest you take the opportunity. You never know how great something can be until you try it. So many amazing opportunities could come out of it. The best advice I could give any incoming intern is to come in with an open mind and be confident in what you do and what you have to offer. Everyone’s experience can be different, but you don’t want to miss what can be an amazing time. For business owners who are looking into taking interns, please do. Not only are you giving students and adults the chance to learn from you but also a chance for you to learn more as well. My best advice for Businesses and business owners speaking as an intern is, to be patient, understanding and take the time to educate and support them. I am grateful enough to have had a supportive and patient staff at the Chamber to help me. I would not have enjoyed my time as much as I did without the welcoming faces that I walked into when entering the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce. By Kelis,
My Experiences at the Chamber
How I started
During my Junior Year at Kathleen High School, I was fortunate enough to participate in a Dual Enrollment program that was given to select students by Polk State. The course that I was able to take covered Business and Entrepreneurship. Through this course, I had the opportunity to accept an internship at The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce. While being there, I have learned so many things, not just about the Chamber but about my community as well. During my stay at The Chamber, my eyes were opened up to a new world. I have learned many new things and gained different perspectives on the different aspects of business. I was able to attend events like Biz Bash, which I wrote a blog on. I attended the first ever Women in Business Council meeting, which is a nonprofit organization that focuses in assisting woman entrepreneurs. I was also able to shadow some of the amazing staff that works in the chamber.
Attending events
Attending Biz Bash was a surreal experience for me. I was ecstatic to see so many businesses showcasing what they have to offer and what their businesses are about. The amount of people who showed up to support was amazing. I had a great time talking and socializing with everyone. I’m glad to have also been able to share my experience with my family who were able to attend. Furthermore, I attended The Women in Business Council meeting that ended up having a big turnout. During this event the Chamber was filled with skillful and hardworking ladies sharing more about themselves and their business. Having the privilege to participate and support them made me feel like I could one day be as important as they are. I met and heard wonderful and dedicated stories about what it’s like being a woman entrepreneur.
One of my favorite parts while taking the internship was being able to sit in during meetings. I had the pleasure to sit in on the Lakeland Chamber’s Chamber Champions meeting, where I met various small business owners around my community. In those meetings, members would talk about what had been going on within their businesses. I could have never imagined not only the hardships that could come with running your own business but also the amazing moments you see when you succeed. In addition, I sat in on a meeting with Prospera, which is a business that I've found the most interesting this summer. Prospera is a nonprofit organization that specializes in providing bilingual assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs who are trying to establish or expand their businesses. Considering that my family and I are Hispanic and both of my grandmothers originate from Spanish countries, it was refreshing to see people advocating for that community.
I want to mention one of the hardworking staff of the chamber, my supervisor Takiyah Dixon. Takiyah is one of the most patient and dedicated women I havemet. She strives for greatness. While being under her wing, she made me feel comfortable and confident in my work. Takiyah has taught me to not only to try my best but to never feel ashamed to ask for help when needed. With her guidance this summer, I have learned so much and met so many great people. I have never been so involved in my community as I am now and I am glad to take this experience with me as I near the end of my internship.
Some things I’ve done
Over the course of the Internship, I have done many things ranging from transferring data, sitting in on meetings, and answering calls. One of the assignments that I am most proud of is writing my first blog post. I had written a blog on the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce Biz Bash Event that I attended. I had never done a blog before, so I was unsure on how the result would look. While writing, I found myself getting stuck because at the time my only goal was to impress anyone who read it. After some time, I realized that my writing was best when I wrote what I truly thought. When I was finished, I was proud of what I wrote and how I presented the event. When it was published to the Lakeland Chamber website, there were no words to describe how accomplished I felt about myself.
I also developed a Business Plan on The Education Committee. This project was definitely a challenge. I had to put myself in that mindset of what I would do if this was my business. This assignment took me a little more time than others, mainly because I had never done anything like a business plan before. I had written so many notes, I did a lot of research and had even rewritten the plan numerous times. Eventually, I had finally gotten to the point where I was happy with how it turned out. It wasn't my finest work, but I tried my best and that is what mattered to me the most.
Challenges I’ve faced
Although, I had a positive experience as an intern, there were some challenges that I faced. The biggest challenge that I had faced was being fearful in my work and what I had to offer the chamber as a high school intern. I would be hesitant to present any assignments that I had done because I had a fear that they weren’t good enough. Only when I completed my first blog did I become more comfortable and confident in what I did. Another challenge I faced was my shyness, especially when attending social and networking events like the Women in Business council meeting. I would be frightened that I would make a fool of myself or say the wrong thing. Even when answering calls, I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to help who was calling or that I would give someone the wrong information. Of Course, I'm still not the best at more social but with the reassurance and support from Takiyah and all Chamber staff, I was able to feel more comfortable.
My Advice for you
This internship was a wonderful experience for me. I took in plenty information and had great opportunities. To any student or young adult who is unsure about taking an internship or doesn’t feel as though it will be fun, I deeply suggest you take the opportunity. You never know how great something can be until you try it. So many amazing opportunities could come out of it. The best advice I could give any incoming intern is to come in with an open mind and be confident in what you do and what you have to offer. Everyone’s experience can be different, but you don’t want to miss what can be an amazing time. For business owners who are looking into taking interns, please do. Not only are you giving students and adults the chance to learn from you but also a chance for you to learn more as well. My best advice for Businesses and business owners speaking as an intern is, to be patient, understanding and take the time to educate and support them. I am grateful enough to have had a supportive and patient staff at the Chamber to help me. I would not have enjoyed my time as much as I did without the welcoming faces that I walked into when entering the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce.
By Kelis,