Charlie, our Partnership & Business Development intern from Butler University, reflects on his time with us.
An internship gives the intern the ability to refine their skills, develop as a professional, and network within and outside the company. These experiences were exactly what I was looking for when I was looking at companies to intern at for the Spring of 2021. Given that the world was deep into a global pandemic, I had no idea how an internship would work at any company, let alone a non-profit. So when I came across Nine13sports in my search, I was unsure at first whether or not the company would be the right fit for me. However, after interviewing and joining the team in the early weeks of January, I couldn’t be happier with where I am doing my first internship.
If asked what my favorite part about working at Nine13sports is, there is no way I can give a single answer. I admire the company and just how much it is driven in its mission to make Indianapolis a more vibrant and cohesive community. I admire how each and every one of the employees are super passionate about the work they do, and how they are always willing to do whatever it takes to help Nine13sports be successful. I admire how even during a global pandemic, the company found a way not only to survive but to continue making the world a better place during a time where a lot of people are struggling. I am still baffled as to how the company was able to pivot from programming about bicycles to addressing food insecurity during a pandemic by delivering around SIX AND A HALF MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD in just over a year. Even when there was (at one point) no guarantee that they would be getting a paycheck, the employees continued to show up and work long hours without flinching. This, to me, speaks volumes about the company, and I couldn’t be more proud to work for Nine13sports with the people that make its mission a reality.
And in all of the craziness going on in the world and within the company, they still managed to put together a meaningful internship program to help me develop as a professional. To be completely honest, going into this internship I was unsure whether I would get much out of it. Two months in, I can safely say that I got way more than I was expecting. I’ve had the chance to work on important projects, give my input on company activities, run some of the social media channels, meet with our current and prospective partners, and so much more. Not only that, but employees are doing everything they can to make sure that I am getting time to work in the office on meaningful tasks (no intern coffee runs here!). That being said, if I am ever feeling burnt out and need a break from the office, the team finds something for me to do whether that be some work around the depot, helping with food deliveries, or some other task. The employees genuinely care about me, how I’m doing, and if there’s anything they can do to improve my experience. It is so refreshing to work for a company that not only cares about the work that I’m doing for them but also cares about me and how I’m doing personally.
So going back to the question “what’s my favorite part about working at Nine13sports?” It’s the people. It’s the company’s mission. It’s the good that Nine13sports is doing for Indianapolis and central Indiana through programming in both schools and the community. It’s the perseverance and drive that I see each and every day I’m in the office. And finally, it’s the experiences that I am having with the coworkers I will never forget. Even though it is only for a few months, I couldn’t be more honored to be a part of this company and I can’t wait to see what Nine13sports has in store for the future.