From Classroom to Office: Ashbury College Students Intern at Students on Ice Foundation

This August, SOI Foundation welcomed three students from Ashbury College to our Gatineau office for a two-week internship. Through this immersive placement, the interns were introduced to the inner workings of the organization, learning how our teams collaborate to deliver impactful programming! From gaining a first-hand look at office life to contributing to real projects, the interns experienced what it means to be part of a mission-driven organization. Along the way, they built on their hard and soft skills, strengthened their confidence, and deepened their understanding of the people and processes behind SOI Foundation’s work.

Below are reflections from Alisa, Emma, and Cynthia, who share their perspectives on what they learned, the challenges they overcame, and how this experience has shaped their outlook on future studies and careers. Their voices offer a meaningful glimpse into the value of hands-on learning, mentorship, and youth engagement at Students on Ice Foundation.

“I am an expedition alumni passionate about environmental sustainability. The previous summer, me and 21 other youth joined the Students on Ice Foundation on an Arctic expedition with a group of scientists, Indigenous Elders, artists, educators, and experts.

For two weeks this summer, I interned under Students on Ice with the Blue Futures Pathways team. My knowledge of Students on Ice, and the impact the expedition had on me pushed me to apply for an internship. I credit this impact to the expedition team who worked tirelessly to execute a perfect journey. I also owe credit to the Director of Partnership and Programs and the Student Programs Administrator at my school, Ms. Padme Raina and Ms. Meeta Ashrit, who supported my application.

There was never a dull moment during my internship. We had the opportunity to tour the building, and the workplace itself is not only beautiful but filled with people passionate about their work. Our tour guide stopped us at multiple different workplaces, and each branch of scientists explained their research with great enthusiasm. Under the same roof, we had workers restoring old books, to workers conducting research with cryobanks. After the tour we were told that if we were interested in absolutely anything, an email would be provided.

I gained the experience of working a 9-5, meeting ‘coworkers’ who were kind and hardworking. I did tasks, edited and sent emails, and became a pro at using the Google Calendar. One of the tasks was researching the opportunities in the blue economy, and I’m grateful my work contributed to a programme like ECOP.

I also learnt a lot during my time at Students on Ice, these short two weeks gave insight on many skills to set me up for success in the future. For example, soft and hard skills, resume construction, cover letter, and interview skills were all explained in workshops by Anna Naylor.

Overall, the Students on Ice foundation was a great environment to intern, as the workers show true passion for their work. Their achievements are nothing short of amazing, with its expeditions, ECOP programme, and I’m grateful I got to see the thought and effort, and meet the people behind it.

For the near future, I am looking to transfer the skills I learnt here in my internship to the upcoming school year. However, I believe I will truly see the benefits and impact of my time here with the Blue Futures Pathways team later on in my professional life.”

“Looking for a way to get some job experiences before actually stepping into the field, this internship was exactly what I was searching for. In addition, I have always been an avid geography class enthusiast, but I only started to realize the emphasis on the cryosphere as part of the curriculum here in Canada compared to other countries, which got me digging into this topic. The SOI Foundation internship became the bridge between these two of my interests.

Mainly, we were able to go through what working at a desk job would look like. Going to the office and tackling tasks were the day-to-day, with a much needed lunch break to battle the monotonous routine. While undertaking some of the more repetitive tasks, I realized the importance of organizing your schedule in a way that keeps you motivated to work. On another note, a tour around the Natural Heritage Campus of the Museum of Nature was definitely the highlight of the whole internship. The sticks, stones, and bones in the archives left me without words. 

Looking back, I have further developed patience when it comes to sitting through meetings, sifting through e-mails, and reviewing my work over the course of the internship. This can be useful when applying to other areas of the work place like communication, which can support me in my professional journey later in the future. Furthermore, I have also developed my research skills, and now I am more than adept at using the search engine.

With my newly gained skills and experience of working a white-collar job, I am now more confident and ready to take on new challenges and opportunities concerning a professional setting. I admire the SOI motto of “flexibility is key”, which I will keep in mind as I start working. While I continue to contemplate my personal career pathway, knowing what office work entitles really helps to see the bigger picture of such professions.”

“My highlight during the internship was being with my peers and the friendly staff around me. They provided me with a lot of support and good advice. The standout activity to me was searching for the contact of participants of past expeditions. I found the task both relaxing and satisfying.

I encountered a few challenges at the start of the internship. For instance, I was uncertain of how to address the adults here because it felt awkward calling them by their first names. However, I quickly became comfortable doing that in the second week. I learned several new skills during the internship. First of all, using the google software. I have never used the Gmail chat and google calendar before, but using them at SOI Foundation helped me become more familiar with the two tools.

Also, I learned to sort emails and separate them into different categories in an administrative task. I believe that this skill will be helpful for me when I start receiving a lot of emails in the future. I also gained more soft skills. For instance, I learned to solve problems by communicating and collaborating with others. When I am confused with a particular aspect of a task, I would reach out to my fellow interns or message the person who assigned the task to me.

After this experience, I will use the skills I learned in school. For instance, when I do a group project, I will be more proactive in communicating with my teammates. Also, if I encounter any questions, I will reach out to my classmates and teachers immediately.”