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Uaa sustainability internship
During my internship with the University of Florida's Athletics Association, I was able to apply my theoretical knowledge of sustainability to the real world. My internship position was created to integrate U.F.'s sustainability initiatives from the authority University Office of Sustainability to that of the Athletics Association. This meant that my role as an intern was entirely knew to the Athletics Association, and that a lot of my job would involve trial-and-error to ensure that my programs' new home would be sustainable.
Through the TailGator Program, I managed student volunteers who worked around campus on football game days. Their job was to provide fans with knowledge regarding Gainesville's recycling policies, distribute recycling bags, and ensure that fans knew the proper procedures regarding U.F.'s recycling program.
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By facilitating outreach and leading volunteers, I was better able to hone my leadership skills. I gained a greater confidence in my decision-making and learned how to think on my feet, dealing with the unexpected problems that would arise when handling student volunteers and directly approaching fans regarding our program.
By managing the Zero Waste Teams, I managed even more student volunteers! These Navy ROTC students worked within the stadium, sorting compostable materials from recyclable ones within the stadium. In working closely with this system, I learned about the unconventional ways in which individual enterprises are working to become more environmentally sustainable. This small-scale focus provided me with a strong working foundation of the feasibility of composting initiatives, which will better enable me to one day manage sustainability measures and policies on a broader scale.
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