Goals and Learning

Career Goals

My ultimate career goal has shifted from becoming a pediatrician or OB-GYN to pursuing a public health and research career. While I am still passionate about health and helping others, my experiences over the past year, particularly my internship with LHSI, have opened my eyes to how impactful research can be. I've realized that I am excited by the possibilities of contributing to large-scale change through public health initiatives and scientific discovery. After seeing firsthand how research can influence real-world outcomes, I am confident this path is right for me.

Over the past year, I've made meaningful progress toward this goal. I've worked as a lifeguard at the IU Natatorium for over a year, balancing a busy schedule while gaining valuable time management and communication skills. I've also had the opportunity to intern with the Type 1 Diabetes research team through LHSI, where I learned more about clinical research and public health in action. These experiences helped me grow professionally and confirmed that I want to make research my career. Because of this, I've decided to drop the Pre-Med portion of my degree and pursue a minor in Public Health instead.

This summer, I plan to continue lifeguarding and begin a new position as an LHSI Ambassador, where I can support incoming interns and stay involved in the research community at IU Indianapolis. During the rest of my time here, I will continue looking for internships, professional experiences, and volunteer opportunities that strengthen my public health skills and understanding. I'm also committed to staying financially and academically on track despite personal and financial challenges that have shaped the past year. I'm proud of my progress and excited to see what I'm capable of as I continue to grow and define my future in research and public health.

Internship Goals

Learning goal #1 Improve my Communication:

At the start of my internship, I hoped to improve my communication skills. I believed that effective communication was important in health sciences, and wanted to learn how to communicate clearly. I anticipated that this would not only benefit me during the internship but also in daily life, interviews, and future healthcare roles.

To achieve this goal, I planned to:

Utilize Microsoft Teams for efficient communication, minimizing unnecessary office visits.
Schedule regular check-ins, either in person or via Teams, to ensure alignment and clarity.
Keep my supervisor informed about my hours and promptly address any timesheet issues.

Progress and Growth:

During my internship, I really improved my communication skills! I became more comfortable using Microsoft Teams to ask questions and share updates. My written and verbal communication started to feel more polished, and I even took the initiative to check in with my supervisor rather than waiting for them to come to me. At first, I found myself overthinking how to phrase my messages, but with some practice and helpful feedback, it all became much easier and more natural.

Reflections:

This growth in communication has been a game-changer for me. It pushed me to get out of my comfort zone, look for job opportunities, and grow my professional network. I feel way more ready to have meaningful chats, whether I'm reaching out to potential employers or connecting with others in my field. The confidence I’ve built in sharing my thoughts and asking good questions has opened up so many doors and helped me build great relationships.

Next Steps:

Moving forward, I want to improve my communication skills in group settings like team meetings by getting more involved. I plan to get better at giving verbal updates on projects and asking questions when I need to. On top of that, Iwant to work on my presentation skills so I can share info clearly with different audiences.

Learning Goal #2: Increase Independence and Work Effectively in a Team:

In the fall, I wanted to increase my independence in my work and become a stronger team player. I felt that by building both confidence and competence, I would be more prepared for complex responsibilities in the future. I also hoped to develop a sense of structure in my day-to-day by having a game plan or set of tasks to guide me.

To achieve this goal, I planned to:

Follow a checklist of tasks provided weekly or daily and complete them independently.
Complete the Research CITI training to strengthen my understanding of research practices.
Take initiative to ask for more tasks once my list was completed, or use downtime to focus on schoolwork if no additional assignments were available.

Progress and Growth:

During my internship, I really noticed how much more independent I became! I started handling my daily and weekly tasks with a lot more confidence, and I found I rarely needed to double-check the little things. The CITI training was super helpful, giving me a great background in research procedures that I could apply during our participant visits and screenings. This little step helped my team see that they could trust me and that I was really eager to learn. Also at first, balancing my schoolwork during slower times was a bit tricky, but I've definitely improved in managing my priorities and staying productive!

Reflections:

This experience really opened my eyes to how important it is to trust myself and being more confident. I used to second-guess and wait for direction only because I didn't want to make so many mistakes, but now I feel way more confident stepping up, making decisions, and jumping in without needing constant guidance. Gaining this independence has given me the guts to pursue new jobs, apply for roles. I get now how crucial it is to show up ready to contribute and be proactive in every chance I get to continue progressing in my college career.

Next Steps:

I'm really looking forward to what’s next and want to keep anticipating what the team might need. I’d love to shadow my teammates more to see what they do beyond my role and dive into new challenges. I feel ready to take charge of a task or throw out some solutions when issues pop up; something I wouldn’t have felt confident about at the beginning of this whole experience!

Learning Goal #3: Be a Reliable and Dependable Intern:

In the fall, I wanted to be a reliable and dependable intern. Reliability has always been important to me personally, and I knew that building a reputation for dependability would contribute to my success. I understood that in a research setting, accuracy and consistency aren’t just preferred they’re essential.

To achieve this goal, I focused on:

I embraced the mindset that “this internship is a marathon, not a sprint”—committed to doing quality work, understanding it thoroughly, and asking questions whenever I needed clarity.

Progress and Growth:

I’ve really made strides in becoming someone my team can count on! I’m proud to say I never missed a deadline and always kept my timesheet up to date, reaching out proactively if anything needed adjusting. Following through on my assignments and incorporating feedback has helped me build a great sense of trust with my supervisor. I did have a moment when I wondered if I was doing “enough,” but I’ve come to realize that being reliable isn’t about doing everything it’s about committing to what I say I’ll do with care, accuracy, and consistency.

Reflections:

This goal really shaped how I see my work life whether its lifeguarding or any new job I will have in the future. I’verealized that being dependable isn’t just about crossing off tasks and about being someone people can count on. I enjoy being that person and it boosts my confidence when it comes to job applications, networking, or stepping up in a team.

Next Steps:

Looking ahead, I want to continue building on this foundation by gradually taking on tasks with more responsibility projects where people will depend on me to lead or deliver key components. I plan to ask for more feedback to make sureI’m not just meeting expectations but exceeding them when I can. I’ll also continue to challenge myself to go beyond what's required strategically and sustainably without overextending myself.

Learning

At the start of my internship in the fall, I hoped to grow in confidence, gain real-world experience in research, and strengthen the skills I had learned in class. Reflecting now, I can genuinely say that I enjoyed my time during this internship, and I believe I truly grew both professionally and personally. I’m proud of the work I did and the meaningful connections I made.

Communication:
- I regularly used professional and appropriate language in both written and verbal exchanges. Over time, I became more confident when communicating updates and questions, especially during meetings and through Microsoft Teams. For example, I began drafting emails with less hesitation, making sure they were clear, concise, and professional—something I improved through frequent coordination with my supervisor and research staff.
Teamwork:
- By spring, I found myself better able to connect the dots between my coursework and hands-on experiences. My understanding of public health principles and research ethics helped me appreciate the importance of participant consent and culturally sensitive communication during screenings. My background in epidemiology also helped me grasp the goals and long-term impact of our study protocols.
Integration and Application:
- By spring, I found myself better able to connect the dots between my coursework and hands-on experiences. My understanding of public health principles and research ethics helped me appreciate the importance of participant consent and culturally sensitive communication during screenings. My background in epidemiology also helped me grasp the goals and long-term impact of our study protocols.
Problem-Solving and Perseverance:
- I became more confident in handling scheduling challenges and data collection issues. One moment that stands out was when I resolved a time-sensitive situation by coordinating with multiple team members and suggesting a compromise that aligned with the study’s requirements. I learned to remain calm, flexible, and solution-oriented even when things didn’t go as planned.
Skills I Want to Continue Developing:
- Independence:
  - In the fall, I hoped to grow more independent. While I became more confident in handling routine tasks on my own, I still aimed to take on unfamiliar responsibilities. I pushed myself to initiate conversations about how else I could help, shadowed team members, and made an effort to trust my judgment more and ask fewer follow-up questions about tasks I’d already been trained on.

Constructive Criticism and Feedback
- I was open to receiving feedback and worked on implementing it more efficiently. I took notes during check-ins, set small goals, and made time each week to reflect on what went well and what could be improved. This helped me turn feedback into growth opportunities instead of feeling discouraged by it.

This internship really opened my eyes to how everything I learn in class applies to real-life research and healthcare. I discovered that public health isn’t just about numbers; it’s about people, ethics, and solving practical problems. Being part of a clinical research team allowed me to witness firsthand how complex and human-centered issues like health disparities, recruitment, and informed consent truly are.

Working with this amazing team reminded me that collaboration goes beyond just being a classroom concept it’s absolutely essential. Every person on our team, from interns like me to physicians and study coordinators, plays a vital role in ensuring that research is conducted ethically and effectively. These experiences not only deepened my understanding of public health but also reaffirmed my passion for the field. Reflecting on my journey, I’m really proud of how much I’ve grown. As I look ahead, I’m truly excited to continue building on these skills and discovering new ways to make a meaningful difference.