The Cleveland Foundation summer internship program is about going outside your comfort zone. Every week, in both our jobs and the weekly development seminars, we are challenged to think differently, dream big and jump in to new experiences, even if we’re not quite sure where we want life to take us.

As a social media and marketing intern for Recovery Resources this summer, I have had to take many journeys outside my comfort zone. I am the type of person who likes to finish one project before moving on to the next, and one of the lessons I am learning here is that it’s not about getting one or two projects finished, it’s about getting seven or eight started.

My main project now is creating a blog to draw interest in the work Recovery Resources does. Recovery Resources has been helping people triumph over mental illness, alcoholism, drug and other addictions for more than 55 years. They touch 13,000 lives annually through more than 25 programs addressing a variety of mental health and substance abuse issues. As a marketing intern, I’m finding it challenging to promote our vast array of services without overwhelming or confusing people.

I’ve also been working with the website and social media. Recovery Resources’ website is in the process of going through a total redesign and will relaunch within the next month or two. Recovery Resources is also now on LinkedIn and Twitter (follow us at @RecResCleveland)!

I am excited to continue my work here after my internship ends, as Recovery Resources has offered me a part-time job continuing my initiatives from the summer. What a privilege to step outside my comfort zone and join the fast-paced, challenging, and most of all, passionate, nonprofit sector of Cleveland. Thank you, Cleveland Foundation.

Each week we use this space to give each of our interns a chance to reflect on their internship experiences. Monica Laco, a graduate of  Xavier University, is placed at Recovery Resources.