Cultivating Mindfulness and Gratitude: Lessons from my Internship Journey

Hello everyone! My name is Maria Balderas 25′, and I am a senior Public Health major minoring in Data Analytics and Latin American and LatinX Studies. This semester, I had the privilege of serving as the Spiritual Well-Being Intern with the Office of Spiritual Life.

This role has provided me the opportunity to explore mindfulness, both for myself and the campus community. Through this experience, I designed and implemented several events, including a four-part series called Mindfulness Mondays. Although unforeseen circumstances, such as Hurricane Helene, delayed our schedule, I adjusted and ensured these events could still take place.

The first event, held on October 21^st, featured stress-reduction stations in the Chapel Student Lounge, complete with adult coloring pages, puzzles, relaxing music, and snacks. Students were invited to drop in and enjoy a moment of calm. Two additional events involved meditation sessions led by a student and staff member. Finally, I hosted a tabling event on the Joseph Vaughn Plaza called Gratifest, where students could write something they were grateful for in exchange for a donut.

Throughout this internship, I learned a lot about myself. One significant takeaway was the importance of resilience and adaptability. Not all events went as planned – some had low attendance or none at all. At first, I felt disappointed. I put a lot of effort into creating these events, and felt that students would enjoy these events and find them to be helpful. However, after sharing my thoughts with mentors and peers, I realized setbacks are an opportunity to grow.

I hosted a tabling event in front of the library, which is the heart of campus. I remember feeling very anxious about this event because I had 48-donuts that I had to distribute on a cold, windy, and drizzling day. I was scared because these were not the weather conditions that I expected when I pictured myself tabling an event for the first time. But thankfully, everything went better than I expected! I originally planned to table from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM but the donuts and gratitude leaves went fast. This is one example of growth this semester.

After I finished cleaning up from the Gratifest tabling event, I had a little moment to myself where I was able to reflect on everything that I experienced. I can’t lie and say that I was not overwhelmed with emotions because I was. It was touching to see what other students and classmates were grateful for and how they practice gratitude. During these moments it did not  matter that it was cold, rainy, and windy, what mattered was what I was grateful for. I think this has been one of my biggest highlights of the semester because it was one of the few times where I felt that I made a small impact on campus.

This internship also pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me develop crucial skills. Collaborating with unfamiliar people, cold emailing, and meeting new contacts became a new routine. Over time, I grew more confident, recognizing that reaching out to others is a natural part of professional collaboration.

This role also sharpened my problem-solving abilities. Low attendance at some events inspired me to think of other ways to reach out to students to increase visibility. For example, having an event located in the central part of campus made it more accessible, and contributed to more success.

Additionally, my social skills improved significantly. When planning some events, I had to contact people who I would have never met, which caused me to step out of my comfort zone. I no longer feel nervous cold emailing or meeting with someone new. These interactions taught me how to approach different people and adapt my communication style to help others feel welcome.

I am grateful for the internship experience that I had during the fall semester. I felt myself, actively learning and growing through each event and experience. These experiences and lessons will stick with me for a while.

Now, as I prepare to apply to graduate school, I feel more confident and clearer about my future. The lessons I’ve learned during this internship: resilience, adaptability, and collaboration, will undoubtedly serve me well on my journey. I am excited to see the work of the next Spiritual Well-Being Intern as I really enjoyed my experience.

-Maria