Daniela Carrillo was a high school GOCO intern through Arrupe Jesuit High School's Corporate Work Study Program. In this blog post, she reflects on her nine-month-long experience working with the GOCO communications team once a week.

What was your internship like?

This was my second internship while at Arrupe Jesuit High School, and by far, it was the best one. My coworkers were always nice and kind and treated me with empathy. The main things I worked on were data management tasks, social media management, and helping pack and mail GOCO and Generation Wild swag. I also developed professional skills through Khan Academy courses. It was a great experience to be the youngest on the team because I know working at a young age will benefit me as I grow older. 

What skills did you gain from your time with GOCO?

I was able to dedicate time to studying for classes and exams, specifically for subjects I was struggling with, and saw progress and improvements in those classes thanks to the extra support. I also practiced my typing skills through an online course, took other communications-related Khan Academy lessons, and learned something new almost every day. I also loved learning how GOCO and Generation Wild help kids get outside, connect with nature, and grow through outdoor experiences.  

Was there a task or project that stood out to you? 

I enjoyed helping package up swag for mailings— a task that became more frequent toward the end of my internship because of Generation Wild’s Wilderflowers campaign. I also enjoyed helping make sure we followed all Generation Wild partners on Instagram and Facebook. It helped me discover all the partners and learn about what they do. 

What’s one skill you got better at during your internship?

Typing! When I first came to GOCO, I was a slow typist and couldn’t type very professionally. I explained this to my supervisor and she supported me by adding typing lessons to my weekly task list. I grew more comfortable and confident and improved so much that one of my teachers even complimented my skills saying that it looked more professional.  

Did anything surprise you during your time with us?

I was surprised by how much I was able to accomplish. I am proud of my improved time management skills and completing my tasks on time. Over time, my supervisor and I started to organize my tasks in my calendar with specific time blocks, and that made a big difference. 

What do you think about outdoor work or conservation now?

This experience helped me see the outdoors differently— especially insects! I learned a lot through the Wilderflowers pollinator campaign, and it made me want to go outside and explore nature. I find it really interesting how GOCO works with so many partners to make the outdoors better and accessible for all.

If you had to describe your internship in three words, what would they be? 

Communication, empathy, and learning. My coworkers always communicated with each other for help and tasks. There was always empathy at the office, and I appreciated how everyone treated me and each other. Lastly, learning because everything was new to me, and I had to figure things out along the way. I made some mistakes, but I learned and grew from them. 

Anything else you’d like to reflect on? 

I would like to say that I'm incredibly grateful that I got to work with you all. It was such a joy to have this internship experience, and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.