self-ad·vo·ca·cy
noun
the action of representing oneself or one's views or interests.
To me self advocacy also means speaking up for my self, and asking questions when I need help. This has been I big part of my internship. Sometimes I'll be working in the lab and my mentor will be in the office working on his own research. If I have a question about where something is (which happens often), how something works, or when I get locked out of a room because I forget the codes I have to advocate for myself and ask one of the other lab members for help. Everyone in the lab is very nice and helpful, so I feel comfortable asking them questions.
I've been trying to follow Dr.Patton's tip on how to be an intern everyone remembers, but there are a few that I have especially tried to follow. Tip number 1, "Always be trying to do something" is one that I think about the most. sometimes I have to wait patiently for my turn to use a tool, or for my next instructions from my mentor. During this time I try to always be doing something so it doesn't seem like all I do is sit around. I work on my blog post, take pictures, write emails, or do extra research for my project.
I've also been following tip number 4, "Dress more professionally than you think you need to". Here at the lab everyone is very casual, most people wear tee shirts and shorts. I think it makes sense that I would have to dress up more than them because I am younger and if i wore tee shirts and shorts everyday it wouldn't look less professional on me. I've mostly been wearing the same things that I would wear to school, like jeans and a sweater or a blouse. So I look somewhat professional but it's not too over the top for the lab environment.
I've been trying to follow Dr.Patton's tip on how to be an intern everyone remembers, but there are a few that I have especially tried to follow. Tip number 1, "Always be trying to do something" is one that I think about the most. sometimes I have to wait patiently for my turn to use a tool, or for my next instructions from my mentor. During this time I try to always be doing something so it doesn't seem like all I do is sit around. I work on my blog post, take pictures, write emails, or do extra research for my project.
I've also been following tip number 4, "Dress more professionally than you think you need to". Here at the lab everyone is very casual, most people wear tee shirts and shorts. I think it makes sense that I would have to dress up more than them because I am younger and if i wore tee shirts and shorts everyday it wouldn't look less professional on me. I've mostly been wearing the same things that I would wear to school, like jeans and a sweater or a blouse. So I look somewhat professional but it's not too over the top for the lab environment.