Red Cross Business Service Internship Analysis - Assignment Example

Internship Report 3 Executive Summary, Research Contributions and Poster (a) Executive Summary Red Cross Business Service duly focuses on humanity,impartiality, neutrality independent voluntary service and unity. In this regard, the university offered a fundamental place for me to complete my internship. Notably, the internship under Red Cross Business Service has enabled me to ascertain the most valuable insights and exposure through integrating lessons learnt in community reinforcing knowledge and addressing community needs and desires. The engagement in the community internship facilitated me to acquire mutually beneficially relationships that allowed me to enhance the community as well as provided me with an opportunity to reflect on my experiences. It facilitated me to gain valuable insights about me, my community and various aspects related with the community in the most positive and effective way: Communication and Team work: The exposure to the real situation familiarized me in enhancing my communication capability and it also facilitated in increasing my competencies of working within the team as a team member. Problem Solving: The community internship enabled me to understand all the community associated needs and facilitated me to transform community actions by working together based on the knowledge, strengths and capabilities of the individual involved in the voluntary service. (b) Research Contribution In relation to my learning and growth through the involvement in the community internship, the learning material consisting of lectures have facilitated in answering many of the questions such as why I was engaged in the community internship and what degree of insights and knowledge are required by me to effectively perform the requisite tasks of internship. It also facilitated me to make valuable judgment regarding my personal and professional capabilities. Before the inception of this course, I was apprehensive but every staff in Red Cross supported me and made me feel at ease and facilitated me to easily acquaint with it. The module 3 and module 4 significantly aided me rigorous understanding of the community and its various aspects. (c) Poster I also created a poster which reveals the mission statement of Red Cross service as well as the poster depicts the purposes of the activities that they are engaged in. The poster depicts the pictures that familiarize with stressful life of disabled people as well. 3.2 Project or Role (a) Role Development My engagement in the community internship delivered me valuable insights about the changing community environment. While dealing with the changing community environment, it required me to be flexible enough to consider all the minute aspects of the community. My first task as a part of community internship program was researching for finding grants to make a booklet for Red Cross College. Accordingly, I was required to work with the computer to research for finding the grants to renovate the facility of the community such as height adjustable tables and chairs for the disability people in the production areas. Consequently, I had to deal with four companies for making a deal concerning furniture and sometime I was required to consult with Julies Myers the manager in order to make vital decisions. I was also required to deal with these four companies concerning costs of products and shipping costs. I had been rigorously committed to my work. Nonetheless, I often got exhausted while working, in order to remove my fatigue I used to listen to certain songs in Module 3 which inspired to further work more dedicatedly. The songs also facilitated me to imagine the words of John Lennon ‘Imagine for people Living for today.’ (b) Organization Benefit I had been duly committed towards performing the task that was assigned to me and I tried my best to perform the assignment in the most positive manner. I put all my knowledge and insights which I have acquired for performing the tasks assigned to me effectively. I intended to render the service in such a way that would help the entire team to accomplish the purpose of the activity. Additionally, in the course of dealing with the companies related with the task assigned to me it facilitated with an opportunity to develop my interpersonal skills for making the deal successful as well as it facilitated me in attaining valuable insights about their goals and the objectivity. (c) Outcome Certain significant outcomes were attained that benefitted all the staffs and the organization working at Red Cross Business Service. I believe that dealing with four companies was not an easy task for me. However, my skills and knowledge that I have acquired enabled me to explore my interpersonal skills and capabilities (Imai & Gelfand, 2010). Initially, I believed that my role in Red Cross Business Service will be simple and same for each day. However, it was not exactly the scenario when I started my work in Red Cross Business Service. Every single day I spent at Red Cross Business Service was quite challenging and different from the previous day role that I had performed. I was required to display flexibility for each task as these tasks were different in some or the other way. Moreover, I had to be more rationale while making decisions regarding the various tasks that I had performed at Red Cross Business Service. Indeed, the engagement with Red Cross along with performing different tasks facilitated me to enhance my communication skills and ability to work in varying working environment. (d) Evaluate Outcomes Before I started at Red Cross Business Service, I had prepared a set of objectives that I intended to accomplish at the end of my internship with Red Cross Business Service. Notably, while working at Red Cross Business Service, I had aimed to make the life of disabled people better and valuable. Responsively, I believe that to a great extent I have achieved in delivering these goals. It was quite hard to determine the success; however, I was firmly engaged in observing the activities in which I participated. This observation that I was engaged in helped to determine the success and the progress of my performance. I was duly determined to improve my communication skills. The dealings with companies facilitated to render an opportunity to enhance my interpersonal skills and I believe that my role in dealing with these companies indeed have positively affected my communication skills (Sinicrope, Norris & Watanabe, 2007). Furthermore, working at Red Cross Business Service also facilitated me in ascertaining valuable insights about how disabled people live and familiarized me about the challenges that are encountered by them in their everyday life. It provided me a new perception regarding the people with disability and the challenges that they are faced with. It also facilitated me to overcome many of the misconceptions that I had held prior to the internship. (e) Artifacts Through my research findings of Jupiters Casino Community Benefits Fund (JCCBF), I ascertained that funding limit available amounted to $150,000.00 which was sufficient for applying for grant for making order for more chairs and tables facilities for people with disability. Initially, I thought that disabled people often remain unhappy and downhearted but later when I interacted with them I found them to be happy along with enjoying every part of their life. 3.3 Critical Reflection (a) Theorems: Prior to my internship at Red Cross Business Service, I was not aware of the challenges that are faced by people with disability in their everyday life. While performing at Red Cross, I came to know how hard the life of people living with disability within the community is. Additionally, the knowledge of challenges that are encountered by the disabled people further encouraged me to perform may task in the best possible manner and to help them in making their life better and valuable. In order to conduct my analysis, I have undertaken Social Psychological & Social Construction Theory as the basis of my analysis. Social Psychological theory emphasizes on the ability of others to change the perception of the world (Simon, 2008). Through my internship duration with Red Cross, I came to know that the community internship is valuable than the degree relating with development of interpersonal skills, professional skills and personal values. My engagement at Red Cross Business Service was indeed a very unique experience that has positively influenced my learning practice. With the engagement in such an internship program, I was able to acquire many positive and valuable insights concerning interpersonal skills, personal values and professional skills. This was apparent when dealing with companies relating to price and quality of the furniture intended for disable people (O’Neill, 2010). I was able to attain valuable knowledge which I would have not been able to avail if I was not a part of internship at Red Cross Business Service. Similarly, social construction theory argues that social convention and norms interact with an individual’s worldview and forefronts the positive effects of social role valorization (Shneider & Ingram, 1993). Throughout my entire period at Red Cross Business Service, social role valorization was considered as a significant element of my job. I firmly believe that my role at Red Cross Business Service facilitated in attaining positive social atmosphere by supporting other team members for achieving the goals and objectives based on the their capabilities and their strengths. (b) Knowledge: Working at Red Cross Business Service had helped me in identifying the significance of community organization. I ascertained that without the proper resources, many people within the community are deprived of the basic care. In this regard, Nelson Mandela suggested that “I need you in order to be me. And you need me in order to be you” (Knowledge of Reality Magazine, 2006) Accordingly, it is important that every individual within the community is engaged in cooperating and sharing their knowledge and insights for making the community a better place to live particularly for disabled people. I believe that my participation at Red Cross Business Service has helped me in improving quality service as well as maximizing production outcomes. During my internship at Red Cross Business Service, I came to acquire new knowledge and insights at every context of work that facilitated me in enhancing my personal capabilities (Kiser, 2011). At the same time, my experience at Red Cross Business Service motivated me and further enhanced my interest towards working for people with disability. I relate this unique experience with my personal as well as professional development. I further believe in involving in such a learning experience that would facilitate me to acquire best learning practices along with serving the community. 3.4 Personal and Professional Development (a) Personnel Growth Personal as well as professional growth is among the key factors that encouraged me to join the internship program with the Red Cross Business Service. My work with the organization was quite a learning experience for me. There are five attributes of personal growth which I obtained from my internship in Red Cross Business Service. 1. Knowledgeable and Skilled in their Disciplines I for the first time in my life volunteered for a particular event. My first job as a Red Cross volunteer was to perform a research to find a grant that will assist me to design a booklet for the Red Cross collage (Reflective journal, 06/03/2013). My educational qualification assisted me in that job and I have completed the task within the specified time frame. 2. Effective Communicators and Team Members I worked with other staffs of the Red Cross Business Service. It enabled me to work in a group and gather certain experience. However, I have done varied works as a part of teams when I was in my educational tenure. Such kind of experiences of mine assisted me to develop a good relationship with the other team members. Furthermore, my work with the Red Cross enabled me to enhance my communication skills as I worked with members from different cultural as well as religious backgrounds. 3. Innovative and Creative with Critical Judgment In my tenure of internship with the Red Cross Business Service, I needed to take some critical decisions with the consent of my team members. We selected Bendix Business Furniture to purchase the product (Reflective Journal, 20/03/2013). This aspect provided me a learning experience to take critical decisions and make vital judgments. 4. Socially Responsible and Engaged in their Communities My internship with the Red Cross Business Service allowed me to make responsible decisions. The product that I and my team chose was supposed to be used for disabled volunteers in the production areas (Reflective Journal, 08/03/2013). Thus, it was quite an important decision that we had taken and this will help me in my professional life. 5. Competent in Culturally Diverse and International Environments My internship with Red Cross enabled me to interact with team members from different backgrounds. I and my other team members interacted with four companies with regard to buying the product (Reflective Journal, 15/03/2013). This enhanced my competency to deal with people from different backgrounds. (b) Professional Knowledge Growth My working experience with the Red Cross Business Service enhanced my knowledge quite considerably and it will be effective for me in my Professional growth. All the work was in a real workplace with professional team members and real companies. I acquired the skill of effective communication by interacting with people from different cultures and professional backgrounds. I obtained skills of effective teamwork by working with the other members of the team. Furthermore, I acquired valuable experience of real life decision making for the purpose of buying the product. All this learning experience of mine will enhance my professional career. These experiences will certainly lead me towards a successful professional career. (c) Values I always intended to enhance my skills and knowledge through participating in real community environment. This urge had motivated me to take community internship subject. After working as a part of internship at Red Cross Business Service and interacting with people in the community, it has further motivated me to involve in such activities in future as well. I believe that community spirit is important for personal and professional development. The engagement in community internship facilitated me to strengthen my knowledge and insights by serving the community which also gave me personal satisfaction. 4.0 Poster References Imai, L. & Gelfand, M. J. (2010). The culturally intelligent negotiator: The impact of cultural intelligence (CQ) on negotiation sequences and outcomes. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. Kiser, P. M. (2011). The human services internship: getting the most from your experience. U.S.A: Cengage Learning. Knowledge of Reality Magazine. (2006). Let South Africa shows the world how to forgive. Retrieved from http://www.sol.com.au/kor/19_03.htm Mohapatra, B. K. (n.d.). School of sociology and social policy. Opportunities and Challenges in the Realization of Livelihoods of Disabled People: Infrastructure, Facilities and Access to Resources, pp. 1-100. O’Neill, N. (2010). Internship as a high-impact practice: some reflection on quality. Peer Review pp. 4-5. Shneider, A. & Ingram, H. (1993). Social construction of target populations: implications for politics and policy. U.S.A. The American Political Science Review 87 (2). Sinicrope, C. Norris, J. & Watanabe, Y. (2007). Understanding and assessing intercultural competence: a summary of theory, research, and practice (technical report for the foreign language program evaluation project). Second Language Studies 26 (1), pp. 1-58. Simon, B. (2008). Identity in modern society: a social psychological perspective. United States of America: John Wiley & Sons Read More