Being an intern for Greenpeace is unlike anything I was expecting. I had only done one internship previously and I had been stuck in a stuffy cubicle and talked to someone maybe once a day; more or less the opposite of my experience here.
Back at college I was an environmental engineering major. I hated the school, I hated the major, I hated being in the middle of nowhere; basically I was miserable. Transferring was my only option, but unfortunately I had missed the
due date to apply for the spring semester. Knowing this, I still knew I had to get out of there.
Almost immediately I had an Internet browser up and was frantically scouring the web for an environmental internship. Then I found it, my own personal Holy Grail, Greenpeaces internship website. One application, two interviews, and a multitude of emails laterit was goodbye college and hello non-violent direct action!
The moment I stepped into the D.C Chinatown office I knew I would love it here. The walls were painted cheery colors and everyone had permanently cheery smiles on their faces. A group of us were shown around and introduced during intern orientation, but after that we were just of kind of thrown into things. Here you are not baby-ed or given busy work; whatever, you end up doing is viewed as important and useful. Being here, I actually feel as if I am accomplishing something. Greenpeace, as an organization, relies on individuals to give our Earth a voice; and it sounds dorky but I actually feel as if I am making a difference.
I work on the web-team in the communications department. My frequent tasks including writing up blogs (usually on whatever environmental issue I personally find interesting), updating the website, writing articles, and tweeting. I never knew my social networking addiction could translate into an internship and help raise environmental awareness; its actually pretty awesome!
That is the wonderful thing about working here at Greenpeace; you can always find something youre interested in. There are so many different positions and opportunities available that it seems like it would be pretty hard to not find an opportunity that youll fall in love with like I did. Everyday my list of new assignments is followed by, is there anything you want to do? I want you to get what you want out of this internship. This really has been the opportunity of a lifetime and I encourage all of those who have a passion for protecting the planet to apply. Get into the spirit of non-violent direct action today!
