Jasper is a second-year AFE student who interned as a Crew Leader for Seed Crew at The Food Project (TFP). Here are some reflections about the experience:
In just a few sentences, please tell us about your summer internship. How does it connect to your personal and professional interests?
Over the summer, I interned as a Crew Leader for Seed Crew at The Food Project (TFP). TFP is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit focused on the intersection of youth development, sustainable farming, and food justice. This experience aligned deeply with my personal and professional interests in education, environmental justice, and community engagement. I was able to draw on my background in both farming and youth work while developing new leadership and facilitation skills.
How did you land your internship?
I found the internship through my own research and by leveraging my network, and I’d encourage others to do the same. Additionally, different organizations follow different timelines, so patience and persistence are key.
What did you enjoy about your internship? What did you find challenging?
One of the most rewarding parts of the internship was building strong relationships with youth and seeing their growth over the summer. I also loved contributing to farm work and facilitating workshops. A key challenge was learning a new feedback model called “Real Talk,” which was initially intimidating but ultimately helped me grow as a communicator and leader.
What are the necessary soft and hard skills needed for this position?
Being successful in this role required strong soft skills like communication, adaptability, and empathy, as well as hard skills such as farming knowledge and workshop facilitation.
If you could offer one piece of internship search advice to your peers, what would it be?
If I could offer one piece of advice to peers searching for internships, it would be: don’t underestimate the power of your existing experience and network. You know more than you think, and people want to help—reach out and stay open to opportunities.
