{"id":2962,"date":"2025-06-30T10:02:33","date_gmt":"2025-06-30T09:02:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/careers\/?p=2962"},"modified":"2025-10-22T15:13:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T14:13:09","slug":"halfway-there-reflections-on-my-internship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/careers\/2025\/06\/30\/halfway-there-reflections-on-my-internship\/","title":{"rendered":"Halfway there: Reflections on my internship"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hi! I\u2019m Elizabeth Opoku-Denkyi<\/a>, currently halfway through my summer internship in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) department at the University of Bath, as part of the Bath Insights Internship Programme.<\/p>\n

What drew me to this opportunity was simple but powerful: the chance to gain paid, hands-on experience during the summer break. Out of 24 interns on campus, I\u2019ve found my place in Strategic Engagement and Research Impact\u2014and it\u2019s been an eye-opening journey so far.<\/p>\n

Learning never stops.....<\/h3>\n

One of the biggest lessons has been the importance of personal branding in a professional environment. Branding yourself doesn\u2019t mean dimming your light\u2014it means expressing your authenticity in the most impactful way.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve also gained practical experience with platforms like Pure, Altmetric, and Overton, which help evidence the real-world impact of academic research. As a Politics and International Relations student, I was already familiar with academic research, but this internship has shown me how to apply that knowledge in a strategic and collaborative setting.<\/p>\n

Work, Work, Work, Work, Work... Work!<\/h3>\n

My main focus has been on evidencing academic impact and designing creative case studies that help researchers share their work with diverse stakeholders. One project I\u2019m especially proud of involved the Tobacco Control Research Group<\/a>, where I pitched students and schools as a stakeholder group and drafted a case study to help the team reach them effectively.<\/p>\n

Strength in numbers (and connections!)<\/h3>\n

The networking opportunities have been invaluable. I\u2019ve attended a range of events that have helped me grow both personally and professionally\u2014like leadership and managerial training, which gave me insights into workplace dynamics and team development.<\/p>\n

What doesn\u2019t kill you.. Makes you stronger?<\/h3>\n

As a disabled student, one of my biggest challenges has been learning to speak up when I\u2019m struggling\u2014whether it\u2019s with seating arrangements or general wellbeing. I\u2019ve been incredibly fortunate to work with a team that is supportive, accommodating, and genuinely caring. This experience has reinforced something important: disability in the workplace is not a weakness, and vulnerability can be a strength when it leads to growth and support.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve got a colleague in me<\/h3>\n

Networking and community are strongly encouraged in this internship. I joined the Women\u2019s Network<\/a> and have loved attending their seminars and events. It\u2019s been a space for connection, empowerment, and reflection.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udca1 Three top tips!<\/h3>\n

Here are my top three tips for anyone considering a Bath Insights internship at Bath:<\/p>\n

1. Make the most of a quiet campus<\/strong> \u2013 Go on long walks, meet other interns, and enjoy the peaceful kitchens!<\/p>\n

2. Say yes to everything<\/strong> \u2013 You\u2019re now a staff member, so explore benefits like Vivup<\/a> and other staff perks.<\/p>\n

3. Have fun with it<\/strong> \u2013 Internships aren\u2019t boring unless you let them be. Shape the experience to suit your goals and interests.<\/p>\n

Looking ahead<\/h3>\n

This internship is shaping my future, especially as I prepare for a placement year. It\u2019s helping me understand what I value in a workplace, what I need to thrive, and what kind of environments bring out my best. It\u2019s also giving me the chance to connect with professionals and broaden my perspective.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m truly grateful for this experience, and I believe any student would benefit from an internship like this.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi! I\u2019m Elizabeth Opoku-Denkyi, currently halfway through my summer internship in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) department at the University of Bath, as part of the Bath Insights Internship Programme. What drew me to this opportunity was simple but...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1962,"featured_media":2963,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[748],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2962","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-archive"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/careers\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/82\/2025\/06\/Insights-internship-blog.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/careers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2962","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/careers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/careers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/careers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1962"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/careers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2962"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/careers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2962\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/careers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2963"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/careers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2962"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/careers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2962"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/careers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2962"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}