Our #SummerOfPurpose blog series follows this year’s Cleveland Foundation Summer Interns as they spend 11 weeks working with Cleveland-area nonprofit and public sector organizations. In today’s blog we hear from Brittany Chapman, who is spending her summer working at Leadership Lake County, where she is researching and engaging junior program alumni and helping to prepare for the organization’s annual meeting of the board and CEO. 

Why did you decide to participate in this internship program?

I decided to participate in this internship program when I saw that Leadership Lake County was hosting an intern – and I was lucky enough to get the position with them. I wanted to learn how an educational nonprofit worked, and to be on the teaching side of leadership development.

What has been the most valuable aspect of your internship experience?

The most valuable aspect of the internship so far has been going to the events that Leadership Lake County has hosted and meeting alumni, spending time with the other staff members and networking. 

What are your career goals after college?

After college I plan on working at a consulting firm and working my way up to owning a consulting firm in Industrial Organization Psychology. I want to help companies with organizational development, leadership skills, professional development, critical thinking and team building.

How has this internship helped you grow professionally?

This internship has already helped me immensely in my professional growth. I have been able to gain invaluable skills in networking, communication and organizational development in the short time that I have been here.

How has this internship helped you grow personally? 

This internship has helped me grow personally because of the staff here at Leadership Lake County. There are only five of us and everyone works very hard at what they do. The work environment is people/family first and that is very new to me. It showed me that if you treat your employees right, in return they will work so much harder and care so much more about the work they are doing.

What’s your favorite public space in Cleveland?

My favorite public space in Cleveland would have to be the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Growing up, that was the reason my family would make the drive to Cleveland and it was always such a great experience seeing the animals and watching the zoo expand over the years. 

Where would you take a friend who is visiting Cleveland for the first time?

I would take a friend who is visiting Cleveland for the first time to Cleveland Indians Game. It is a welcoming and energetic environment and Cleveland fans are unlike any others.

What advice would you give to someone considering applying for the Cleveland Foundation Summer Internship program?

The advice I would give to someone considering applying to the Cleveland Foundation Summer Internship program would be to just be nice. Being nice will always get you where you want to go, and it will help you make life-long connections along the way. I feel like always having a smile on my face has been the most valuable asset to how I have gotten where I am today.