This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at the Historic Oakland Cemetery on the landscaping team. Throughout the program, I developed meaningful connections with professionals, including Ted Ward, the Director of Education and Youth Programs, and learned what it truly means to work in a professional environment. Our professional development days helped me prepare for interviews, write effective cover letters and resumes, and build skills that I know will benefit me far beyond high school. One of the highlights of the summer was working on our capstone project, where we helped create an ADA-accessible pathway leading toward an event space. Although the summer days were often hot and physically challenging, the experience was incredibly rewarding. On our final day, I had the honor of presenting our work to donors and colleagues, which gave me the confidence to speak professionally and proudly represent the work we had accomplished. I was especially grateful to be invited back next summer as a Green Skills Leader. Most importantly, this internship gave me lifelong connections, new friendships, and a better understanding of the real world. WIATC prepared me for this program by teaching me to be confident in my voice and never be afraid to speak up. Through the opportunities and experiences I’ve had with WIATC, I’ve learned to step outside of my comfort zone, take initiative, and lead in everything I do. These skills allowed me to feel confident communicating with professionals, sharing my ideas, and taking on responsibilities throughout my internship.