Over the course of the spring 2020 semester, I have been an intern for Suzann working hard on this website and running this blog. Through the months, I learned so many valuable lessons from Suzann about both forest bathing and the professional world. I write this to reflect on my time with her and the internship overall.

When the fall 2019 semester was ending, I was in quite a state of panic as to how I was going to find an internship before the spring semester began. Luckily through the help of the Bloomsburg University career center, I was able to be acquainted with Suzann and we could begin our work in the winter.

Suzann was the perfect mentor because she treated me as an equal and as we met weekly to discuss our goals and plans, she would ask me what she could do for me and how she could help me with my future. As I taught her about WordPress and using some of this technology, she taught me about forest therapy, speaking to contacts, and how to navigate the world professionally. I will always be grateful for the way that she treated me and the level of mutual respect we have had for each other.

When the pandemic hit, it certainly made things more difficult. It was disheartening to know that we could no longer meet face-to-face, and I missed out on the chance to forest bathe myself in the spring. Nonetheless, we stayed positive, and I was able to continue my work remotely and still learn more about forest therapy.

The lessons I have learned during this internship have been trust, respect, and optimism, as I learned how to achieve the confidence in myself to navigate the professional world and feel like I will be prepared to face the working world after my graduation.

While this internship was full of hard work and hours, it never felt that way. I enjoyed what I was doing and the freedom and creativity that Suzann encouraged allowed me to express myself and to be proud of what I was completing each week. I often found this internship to be more enjoyable and fulfilling than some of my classwork.

I want to tell Suzann thank you for taking a chance on me and allowing us to learn from this internship together. She has been a great mentor and friend, and I feel she has done an excellent job for preparing me for the future.