As our Ashbury College interns wrap up their two-week placement with the SOI Foundation and Blue Futures Pathways, they each share a behind-the-scenes look at their experience, written in their own words.

While Addison Gillespie, Maélia Primeau, and Kelly Jiang shared the same placement, no two experiences were alike as they each brought unique passions and goals to the table. From ocean conservation and community outreach to the creative and scientific sides of water stewardship, their stories show how individual curiosity shapes a professional journey.

Read on to explore their growth, mentorship highlights, and takeaways from a summer internship they won’t soon forget!

Addison Gillespie

My name is Addison Gillespie, and I am a Grade 12 student at Ashbury College. I am 17, and some of my hobbies include running, horseback riding, and really anything to do with the outdoors. I joined the SOI Foundation because I really value their work and their mission. I have always been interested in their expeditions and the work they do with youth, so I was really grateful to be given the opportunity to spend time with their team.

Stepping Into the Office

I wanted to learn what it was actually like to be in a workplace and understand everything that goes on behind the scenes to make their work possible. It is inspiring to see how much planning goes into the expeditions and how many different people play a role in making them happen. There are so many different parts to an organization that you do not necessarily think about when you only see the final result.

The transition into the workplace has been relatively smooth, especially since this is my first time in a real work environment. I really like how organized and open our workspace is. If it is a long day, we are allowed to take breaks, and there is even an outside area where we can eat lunch. I love this because it is nice to be able to step outside for a bit and take a break from working.

Discovering New Pathways

One of the biggest things I have learned is how involved SOI is with water beyond just their expeditions to the arctic. Before this internship, I didn’t realize how many different opportunities and careers are connected to water. Learning about the blue economy has shown me that working with water can involve areas like conservation, education, research, and project management. It made me realize that there are so many different ways to build a career around something you care about.

One of the best pieces of advice a mentor has shared with me is to not be afraid to reach out and talk to as many people as possible. I can be shy at times, so this was something I really wanted to work on. Being in such an open environment has helped me become more comfortable starting conversations, asking questions, and learning from the people around me. I have realized that you can learn so much just by talking to someone about what they do and how they got there.

Originally, I was not really interested in environmental careers, but after learning more about them, I have found them much more interesting than I expected. I have also started thinking more about education as a possible path after high school. Through talking to different people, I have realized that education can take many different forms. It could involve working directly with students, creating educational programs, or even connecting with areas like project management and environmental conservation. Seeing these different possibilities has made me more open to exploring careers that I had not originally considered.

I have also noticed a change in my time management and organization skills. Having to manage my responsibilities and stay on top of different tasks has helped me become more organized. I think my biggest strengths going into the workforce are organization, networking, and teamwork. I have learned that being able to work well with others and communicate with different people is just as important as completing your own work.

A Future in Education

Looking ahead, I know I can apply these skills to my everyday life. Going into my last year of high school, I will have a lot going on, so being organized and managing my time well will be really important. I have also developed a new perspective on water conservation and the environment in general. It is interesting to see how even small changes we make in our everyday lives can contribute to a better future.

Overall, this experience has definitely grown my curiosity about exploring education as a post-secondary option. I really want to have a career where I can help people, and now I am interested in finding ways that I can help the environment as well. I am leaving this experience with a better understanding of the workplace, new skills, and a much broader idea of the different paths I could take in the future.

Maélia Primeau

My name is Maélia Primeau and I am a grade 12 student living in Ottawa. I enjoy spending my time at my cottage doing crafts or aquatic activities. I like reading, rock climbing, and playing video games. I am interested in biology and other fields of life sciences.

First Impressions

I joined this internship in order to experience working in a professional environment and in hopes of narrowing down my interests for university. I chose SOI/BFP because they are targeted towards conserving the environment, particularly the ocean. They work with many different partners to bring positive change to our planet and foster positive experiences for youth who take an interest in ecology. Going into this internship I was hoping to experience working with people who care about the environment and meeting with the nature museum team and seeing their work environment. Everyone seemed so passionate about what they were doing and seeing this furthered my interests in a life-sciences related field.

I had never worked in a professional environment before but the transition to working in the office was easier than I expected. Everyone here was very welcoming and helpful. When us interns would need a break, we had a fun routine of going to get candy from the jar near the cubicles. An eye-opening moment I had was seeing how many different departments there were in SOI and BFP. Before working here, I expected them to be working on the same tasks as a big group but everyone works on very different moving parts towards a common goal which I found interesting. It showed me how there is a space for many different skill sets here. The office is a very calm and clean space. During lunch we had the privilege of eating outside on a porch overlooking a nice pond. It was a good daily change of scenery. 

New Opportunities

During the internship, I read the learning modules which enlightened me about what the Sustainable Blue Economy was and how much animal waste and chemical waste is produced and disposed of into the ocean by marine-focused companies like fisheries and marine transport industries. There is a lot of financial opportunity in things we dismiss as garbage or worthless. When searching for opportunities for the job board, I found multiple ways to get involved without qualifications that would help our cities be clean and sustainable. 

I had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with Anna Naylor about her career pathway and she showed me how many diverse career choices can stem from the same degree. I was nervous about doing the same career for most of my life but speaking with her showed how your pathway can morph into new opportunities you didn’t know were at your disposal. So the best thing to do is to choose a subject that interests you to then explore the vast opportunities that can come with it and be content with what you invest your time into. 

Diving into the Science

Working with SOI and BFP confirmed that some of my interests could turn into careers. I enjoyed working with teams that care about ocean sustainability and environmental conservation and found that I am good at working in teams and delegating tasks. I would like to explore this theme in university and have a positive and meaningful impact with what I do. I worked on my time management as I balanced the tasks we were given and improved my networking skills by speaking with many different staff members which is a very worthwhile skill. I have met people who I will be able to contact for help with my career pathway in the future.

I plan to use my newfound networking skills all throughout life to create meaningful connections with people to spark future opportunities. I have always had an interest in biology and ecology and have seen the vast opportunities available with that field. I have also found that I would like to have more science oriented work than office work. I intend to watch what I waste to try to have less of an impact on the ocean and our scarce freshwater resources. As university applications approach, I have to reflect on what I wish to study but working here has shown me that even if I study a passion of mine, it can take me much farther than just the traditional careers in that subject and that my academic and career pathway will not be linear. 

Kelly Jiang

Hi! My name is Kelly. I am an international student who just moved to Canada and am passionate about sustainability work and nature’s well-being. SOI amazed me at first glance when I explored their website. I was fascinated by the majestic Arctic they captured and inspired by how youth from around the world were actively engaging with the Arctic region and Indigenous culture. With excitement, I am now here at the SOI Foundation, beginning my very first internship.

A Warm Welcome

The transition into a professional workspace was rather easy. The team members at SOI Foundation soothed my nerves and anxiety within an hour with their heartfelt professional guidance and the welcoming office environment they’ve created.

I was surprised to notice that I learned something new in every task assigned. I recalled that our first and ongoing challenge was to complete the learning module. Although the content seems like a lot at first, I found myself enjoying the process of diving into ocean knowledge and our power to sustain and preserve the blue future of our planet.

In addition, I not only learned how Excel works in the research project, but also what the process of finding, enrolling in, and attending an eco forum could look like. Knowing how a non-profit organization functioned was my best takeaway in this two-week process.

Creativity with a Purpose

Over the two weeks, we met with all the functioning teams within the organization, including the alumni team, finance team, media and communications teams, and expedition team. Looking more closely at their daily work gave me a whole new perspective on their roles. As an art student, I never imagined myself in an industry beyond traditional art. However, meeting the media team at SOI Foundation and seeing how they produce each post, brochure, and handbook sparked my interest in graphic design.

Building Confidence

Looking back on my internship weeks, the thing I’m most grateful for is the openness of the SOI office. This refers not only to the wide range of opportunities out there to explore, but also to the willingness of staff members to help, guide, and support. I was able to talk to one member of each department 1:1, including our ‘boss lady’ Tara, which one could never dream of chatting with the director of programs straight ahead in their first internship job. From each of them, I gained so much support as a newcomer in Canada: how to build my strengths, how to find internship opportunities, the must-dos in college… all sorts of things that will help me incredibly as I head off into life. I believe there is nowhere else to learn these valuable, practical skills.

Along the way, I gradually found my strengths in tackling assignments quickly and with high quality. Compared to before, SOI really built on my confidence as I’ve become more willing to open up and less afraid to seek feedback proactively. I also often found myself fully emerging into the workforce in this nurturing environment, being encouraged, and gradually finding my way to contribute and pass on this sense of warmth.

SOI Foundation has been a remarkable experience in my life. I see it not only as an internship but also as a chance for my water conservation awareness and career path to sprout. I remember how members of Blue Future Pathways encouraged me to keep reaching out for help later in life, and how I was exposed to tremendous environmental opportunities throughout the weeks. Looking ahead, I aim to carry forward the same spirit and enthusiasm that all the BFP and SOI members possessed, and build on my role in preserving the “blue future.”

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A huge thank you to Addison, Maélia, and Kelly for sharing their experience and bringing such incredible energy to our teams over the last two weeks. Witnessing their passion and dedication has been inspiring, reminding us of the drive the next generation can bring to water leadership. In fact, we are thrilled to announce that all three have decided to continue their journey with us by joining the Blue Futures Pathways Internship Program next! 

If you are aged 18-35 and also looking for your own hands-on experience in Canada’s Sustainable Blue Economy, the Blue Futures Pathways Mentor and Internship Programs is here to help. Reach out to the BFP team today, and we will work with you to align your goals and desired outcomes with the right opportunities and resources!

Blue Futures Pathways

bfp@soifoundation.org