Your Future, Start Now: Lina Chi
Lina Chi shares her experiences of participating in the Your Future, Start Now Internship Programme.
My story – Lina Chi
- Course: BSc Psychology
- Year of study when you completed this internship: First year
- Employer: Research assistant within a team looking at PhD wellbeing
Why did you sign up for Your Future, Start Now?
I signed up to YFSN because I wanted to learn more about soft skills. The whole field of careers was really foreign and intimidating to me, so I felt this programme would be a nice start for me to slowly start with. I also saw a guaranteed internship being promoted so I definitely wanted that experience.
How did you find the 5-week workshop programme?
I found that the five weeks flew by quicker than I expected. My favourite parts of the workshop was definitely listening to the guest speakers who would talk about their experiences in different career sectors. Although the majority of speakers worked in sectors I didn’t plan on entering, the skills they talked about were interdisciplinary so I could apply the things they were saying to my own career interests. Through the programme, I was able to develop many of the soft skills I believe I already have. One particular workshop I enjoyed focused on communication and teamwork. It really inspired me to start networking and opened my eyes to workplace expectations I wasn’t previously aware of.
Being on the programme honestly didn’t feel too overwhelming so I didn’t feel the need to adjust my set schedules at the time. Before attending each session, I made sure to finish my lectures from that day, which really helped with time management.
A CV was required from us when applying from the internship. I had little prior experience of writing a CV, but one of the workshops which focused on this completely eased my worries. Furthermore, the Careers Centre gave us the option of booking a meeting to look over our CVs, which felt very reassuring.
Tell us a little about your internship
My internship was having the role of research assistant within a team looking at PhD wellbeing. It was entirely online, as I was situated back home in Thailand during the summer. Rather than an intense week of work, my internship was scattered across three months. This was a unique case, and I’m sure I experienced more hours than a week! However, I really enjoyed this experience, so I have no complaints whatsoever!
I worked on a project regarding the wellbeing of PhD students, where I came up with possible interventions to specifically target imposter syndrome. This was an individual research project, so I had the freedom of structuring my time to fit what was best for me. I also had frequent meetings with Dr Paula Miles, who was my main contact point throughout this internship. During these meetings we would discuss my ideas and progress.
What skills did you learn and how did you put them into practice during the internship?
I depended a lot on self-motivation and self-reflection throughout my internship. Having the privilege of undergoing this research project alone meant I had a lot of freedom (which I was very grateful for!), however, sometimes it was difficult for me to become motivated to do my work. With no team to boost personal morale, I definitely experienced some moments of burnout. YFSN’s workshop on self-motivation helped shift my mindset and attitude to the ways in which I was working. Being kinder to myself and reflecting on my work in a more rational way lessened my stresses throughout the entirety of my internship.
What’s next for you in your career journey?
Although not 100% confirmed, there have been discussions about me continuing this internship and research project throughout my second year, which I am extremely excited for! I am also hoping to get a part-time job, and grasp onto any volunteering opportunities. There are a couple societies I am a part of too – I am excited to see where that brings me.
What would you say to someone considering signing up for Your Future, Start Now?
The YSFN programme is highly beneficial, especially with the guaranteed internship after the end of the programme. It really helped me understand more about myself, what I want to do in the future, and the steps I plan to take to reach that goal. There really is no loss from signing up. Definitely go for it!