My month-long internship at RiverArk represented far more than a simple work experience; it marked a pivotal moment in my personal and professional development. Coinciding with my twentieth birthday, this opportunity served as a meaningful transition into both adulthood and the professional world. It felt very symbolic in its own way. I felt as if I had taken one big step into being an actual adult.
Going in, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But from day one, RiverArk’s culture made a lasting impression on me. I was met with a warm and welcoming environment, surrounded by genuinely supportive people. While the team operated with impressive efficiency and coordination, there was an underlying foundation of mutual respect and genuine care for one another. What particularly struck me was how approachable and down-to-earth the CEOs were, taking the time to connect with people on a personal level.
During my time here, I learned a lot about myself, about work, and about what a career might look like. One of the biggest takeaways for me was realising how much I enjoy creative and analytical tasks, particularly around user experience and design. Working on the company website was especially rewarding. It aligned perfectly with one of my university modules focused on User-Centred Design, and it confirmed that this is something I’d like to pursue further. Just as importantly, I also discovered which parts of marketing I enjoyed and which parts I did not, which is something I have not fully realised before, allowing me to have a knd of clarity I’ll be carrying forward.
Over the course of this fast-but-impactful month, being pushed outside my comfort zone has allowed me to grow. RiverArk helped me explore my strengths and also helped me gain more skills. I saw my video editing skills improve, but I also noticed the gaps in them, and thus, I will continue to enhance them outside of this internship.
This experience gave me much-needed clarity about my future. While I’m currently pursuing an MSci in Psychology, I’ve always known I wanted to move toward a niche career path. Being at RiverArk gave me a chance to see different possibilities and to understand more about how I want to shape my future.
As one of the first cohorts of students to intern at RiverArk, I feel deeply honoured. I have learnt a lot about the professional world, while also learning stuff about myself. Although it was a short stay, I believe the growth was immense. I am grateful for every engaging conversation, every piece of feedback, every opportunity to apply what I have learned, and every moment that nudged me closer to understanding my future path.
Thank you, RiverArk, for helping me not only begin my twenties but also for helping me start my first steps into the professional world.