Reflecting on My 12-Week Sustainability Engagement Internship

During my 12 weeks as a Sustainability Engagement Intern, I experienced a journey full of learning, collaboration, and purpose. While I already understood that sustainability goes beyond just environmental issues, this internship allowed me to dive deeper into the wider scope of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), from responsible consumption and climate action to quality education, gender equality, and partnerships for the goals.

A major highlight of my internship was helping to plan and implement Sustainability Awareness Week. I supported everything from brainstorming themes to coordinating with clubs and promoting events. One standout moment was getting the Sub Aqua Club involved in World Ocean Day. Their enthusiasm for ocean conservation helped spark important conversations on marine health, biodiversity (SDG 14: Life Below Water), and the role we all play in protecting our ecosystems. I also took part in Food Waste Action Week, which focused on raising awareness around SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. One of my favourite parts was attending a workshop with Rowen Halstead, where we learned to make a delicious pesto pasta using leftover bread. It was a fun and practical reminder that fighting food waste doesn’t have to be complicated it can be creative and delicious.

We also engaged directly with students across campus both during Sustainability Awareness Week and throughout the internship asking them about their understanding of sustainability, their use of bins, and how confident they felt about recycling correctly. These conversations were insightful and helped highlight the importance of education and accessibility in driving change. This work tied into SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, as it encouraged better waste management and behaviour change at a local level. I learned that awareness really is the first step toward action.

My internship was also a powerful learning experience, thanks to the guidance and support of Michel Mason, my manager. Michel's mentorship helped me see the strategic side of sustainability work from how to plan effective campaigns to how to embed SDGs across a campus community. Her knowledge and leadership gave me a much deeper understanding of sustainability as a system-wide issue, not just an environmental one.

A big part of my development also came from working with Saskia, who introduced me to the social media side of engagement. She showed me how to craft posts that educate, inspire, and inform skills that are essential when working toward SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. I learned how powerful storytelling and digital platforms can be in reaching and motivating diverse audiences. Across the 12 weeks, I developed skills in project management, public speaking, creative communication, and collaboration. I learned how to connect global goals to local actions and saw first-hand how sustainability touches everything from food and oceans to wellbeing and equality.

This internship didn’t just teach me about sustainability, it made me feel like I was part of something meaningful. I’m incredibly grateful for the experience and excited to take what I’ve learned into whatever comes next.