Week Four!
Ah! Where to begin? Last week (week 3) was a big week for all of us. Not only was it National Suicide Prevention Week, but it was also the week that we finished training and jumped right into what our normal workdays would be like! From 9am to 1pm, we have been answering messages on the TWLOHA info account. Here's what's so amazing about that: TWLOHA responds to EVERY SINGLE MESSAGE (That isn't spam or newsletters, of course). When TWLOHA first started, there were only a couple of people answering thousands of e-mails at a time. Now, we as interns have the privilege of being the voice of the TWLOHA organization to supporters that reach out to us. What kind of messages do we answer? Anything from "How can I get involved," to "Where is my t-shirt," to people struggling with suicidal ideation and turning to us for help. We have been answering messages for close to a week now, and it is such a blessing to be able to do what we do. There are words of encouragement, stories that break our hearts...endless words from people all over the world.
And we are the ones who have the opportunity to respond. And we do. To every single one. There are times when I want to cry, where I am so touched by the stories of others, the stories of those who are hurting, of survivors, of people wanting to make a change in the world, of dedicated family members or school faculty that want so badly to bring light into a dark world.
This is the heart of TWLOHA, and I am honored to be at the center of it, giving resources that lead people to hope and help, encouraging them, telling them "You are not alone." And it is my hope that someday they believe it, that the words I write will ignite a spark.
Did I mention how much I love being here?
We also received our staff assignments this past week, and I am proud to announce that I will be working as the intern for the TWLOHA Tumblr, TWLOHA Twitter quotes, for UChapters, for TWLOHA Street Team, and for the Online Store. So far, it has been amazing - there is so much to learn and so much that I get to do! What's so great about the office is that we aren't treated like interns here, we are treated like a part of the staff. Everyone acknowledges us and wants to know us personally. This is the type of work environment that I want to be a part of - but will I find it anywhere else?
My lunch break is ending now, but I'll update more soon!
