Park Board Internship Inspires Environmental Career Path

For CLA undergraduate Milan Mallawaaratchy , an internship with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board offered an opportunity to see a community project take shape from construction through reopening. The experience also helped Milan discover an interest in environmental work and find ways to use creativity when engaging with the public. In the Q&A below, he shares how they found the internship, what he learned, and offers advice for other Gophers exploring internship opportunities. Learn more below! 

What do you like most about your internship? What have you learned from this experience?

The thing I liked the most was seeing a park be redesigned, built, and finally reopened. Seeing the public outside using the park was a wonderful experience.

Did this internship change how you think about your future career? 

After working at the Park Board, I am more inclined to work in a career that involves the environment. I definitely want to work somewhere where I can be outside and interact with people.

What skills, strengths, or areas for growth did you discover? 

I found myself being creative with community engagement and interaction with the public in a professional way

Tips for future Gophers around internships?

Be open to trying new things. I didn't think that I'd be working outdoors so much with a government job, but it has helped me enjoy and appreciate urban nature