This summer, Wellspring welcomed a new intern, Ellie, who brought curiosity and thoughtfulness to a variety of projects. With an interest in exploring a future career in operations, she spent the summer learning from Wellspring staff across the organization while taking on projects to support our Development and Communications team.

From creating graphic materials and organizing data to conversations with staff about their roles and career paths, the experience offered a behind-the-scenes look at the many pieces that come together to advance Wellspring’s mission. Along the way, Ellie reflected on what those seemingly small contributions can mean within a close-knit community like Cape Ann.

In her own words:

In my time at Wellspring so far, I’ve come to see just how strong the butterfly effect is, especially within communities like Cape Ann. An act of kindness, or even a bureaucratic task, can uncover a trail of hope and possibilities in someone else’s life.

Just over the course of a couple months, Wellspring has shone a light on new career paths for me; as a finance major entering my sophomore year, pressure is building to form the “perfect plan,” which is much easier said than done.

My realizations would not have happened if it weren’t for the warm, welcoming community cultivated by the team.

Working with and around such wonderful people at Wellspring has helped me to gain confidence in shedding off my imagined limitations.

My time at Wellspring showed me that beyond all else, community, perspective, and diligence are fundamental pillars of life…

We’re grateful for the time, energy, and perspective Ellie brought to Wellspring this summer, and her reflection is also a wonderful reminder that professional experiences are about more than the projects we complete. They can help us discover new possibilities, build confidence, and better understand the kind of work we hope to pursue.

Interested in interning with Wellspring? We welcome internship inquiries from students interested in gaining hands-on experience while learning more about nonprofit work and the many roles that help an organization and its community thrive. Reach out to Tracy Davis (tdavis@wellspringhouse.org) to learn more about potential internship opportunities.