By Maureen Mahoney
Flawless Fellow
When people hear internship, they think of going on coffee runs, copying data into a spreadsheet, and not having the respect other employees get. My experience interning for the Flawless Foundation has been quite the opposite. I am given real responsibilities and tasks to complete, I have learned an incredible amount about both mental health and social media, and I know I am a valued part of the team. I could not have asked for a better or more fulfilling internship opportunity.
I remember being nervous for my video call interview with Janine, the founder of Flawless, but once it began, I realized there was no need for that. Janine and I immediately hit it off, talking about my interests of mental health, education, and criminal justice reform. We shared similar goals, simply put, creating a more flawless world.
As soon as I began working, I realized the power that Flawless possesses. When utilized well, social media can be a powerful force of good, and Flawless has tapped right into that. I have learned how to tailor messages to specific audiences and platforms through training at Flawless. One of my main jobs is curating and posting content on all of our channels. I have learned to look for specific types of images and use positive-focused language. It has been a fun experience trying to find perfect things to post. I will see something in my daily life that make me think of Flawless, and I am sure to save it to share with the group.
A skill I believe I have really developed is my communication skills. Not just in the social media messaging, but even having to be on conference calls with the team or having to email someone I don’t know about something, I have learned how to put my best self forward and not be afraid to speak up.
Being a travel-lover, this internship was perfect for me. I have traveled to Dallas, Texas, Providence, Rhode Island, Boston, Massachusetts, New York City, Palm Beach, Florida, and Newtown, Connecticut all for different events, conferences, or trainings. Each place and organization we work is so unique, and I gain new insight each time I travel.
Working for the Flawless Foundation has also helped me learn things about myself and grow in my personal relationships. I have always wanted to go into government, and Flawless has both widened and narrowed my field of interest. I have realized the interconnectedness between all of my interests. You cannot study mental health without education, racial justice, the criminal justice system, and the law. You can’t study the government without looking at everything that is affected by their laws. You can’t look at private-sector institutions and not think about how they are dealing with these social issues or how the government could help them. In my future career, I hope to work in the field, in the nonprofit sector to really understand the needs of those struggling with mental illness, those lost in the criminal justice system, those that have fallen through the cracks in their schools. Then, I hope to use that first-hand experience to generate real policy change in these arenas.
On a more personal note, I have learned how to take better care of myself. I tend to overload at times, always wanting to be busy, and so at times, I can be very stressed. I have learned the importance of taking time for yourself. I have learned the importance of emotional intelligence. I have recognized the value of holding your friends and family close to you and how to nurture those relationships.
Having now been with Flawless for about 6 months, one of the things I am most impressed by is the culture of support that exists here. If I ever need time off for exams, family, or other reason, I am greeted with a response of understanding, empathy, and compassion. If I make mistake, I am asked how they can help me best learn. It’s a constant flow of positive energy, and it what makes it so easy to work here. Who can say their boss texts them on a Friday afternoon to remind them that she appreciates them and that they are flawless?
Overall, I am so grateful to have this internship opportunity. It is always such positive energy and a real teamwork feeling to everything. I am given real tasks and responsibilities, and I know I am valued. I am so grateful for this opportunity, and I am glad my part has the ability to make a small difference in this world.
