Guest Post: My Fall 2019 Internship in the Burlington Mayor’s Office
Guest Blogger Andrew MacLean, our fall 2019 intern, reflects on his time in the Mayor’s office:
After what felt like a very short four months, the time has come for me to say good-bye to the Mayor’s office and the wonderful people who work here. The experience exceeded expectations, from the work that I was able to accomplish to the impact that I was able to make, I would recommend this internship to anyone.I started my journey working two days a week in the City of Burlington Clerks Department, and two days a week in the Mayor’s office. My responsibilities in the Clerks office extended over a wide range, from filing documents to wrapping mugs headed for Japan. It was always something new every day.Although Clerks was very interesting, about half way through my internship I moved to the Mayor’s office full-time where I helped with scheduling, planning and even some communications. The skills I learned from doing tasks like these daily is something that many people my age won’t get until they are into full-time careers.During my time working at the city, I have also gained an in-depth knowledge of the inner workings of municipal affairs and the legislative process. This knowledge gave me a new-found respect for those working a municipal job. There are many things that go into running a city that you’re not aware of from the outside.I have also gotten a taste for the hard work that the Mayor and her team put into making sure Burlington is running smoothly. I would have never known the sacrifices the Mayor and her team must make to ensure all goals and expectations are met. The Mayor has gone above and beyond in her commitment to the city and there is no doubt in my mind that Mayor Meed Ward will be a name never forgotten in the history of Burlington.I would like to thank everyone at the City of Burlington who helped make this internship the most impactful experience I have had so far in my career. Although my career path may not line up or end up directly with the City of Burlington, the skills I learned in the last four months will aid me for the rest of my life.— Andrew MacLeanMAYOR MEED WARD’S TAKE: Andrew was a huge asset and a great addition to my team. It was fantastic to see such a level of maturity in someone of his age. Andrew was always eager to find any way to help and learn new skills. He was able to take any assignment given to him with the same level of enthusiasm and exceeded all of my and my team’s expectations. Our future is in great hands.RELATED LINK:
—*Posted by John Bkila, Mayor’s Media and Digital Communications Specialist