Inside Thalia's Summer at Catalyst

The Intern

This summer, Thalia, a CareerBridge intern, interned with the Environmental Department at Caltrans (California Department of Transportation), where she gained valuable insight into professional life.

From walking into a busy office to building skills through Friday workshops, she reflected on the lessons, challenges, and encouragement that made her internship unforgettable. She specifically walked us through what her typical week looked like as a working intern during the summer.

Thalia went to the Caltrans office at least twice a week for 8-9 hours (sometimes more) every day. She mentioned how the internship was different from what she expected or as seen in movies. Rather than having her just follow around, she was actually given the opportunity to work on assignments and even sit in on meetings independently. 

She also mentioned how the workplace was different from what she expected. That “even though it's a professional workplace, and everybody's working together, I felt like everybody in my department was kind of friends with each other. Like they would bring different cookies or cake and stuff for each other just during the day. And they're so willing to share and, just so open with me coming in.”

The Office

Thalia, coming from a small school, first felt a bit overwhelmed with the idea of walking into an actual office with hundreds of employees. However, she described her first day as “a very exciting day” as the department was having some sort of celebration for one of their teammate’s recent promotion. Thalia felt especially welcomed being a part of that celebration and seeing how they cheer for each other. There couldn’t have been a better “first day”!

Just like most of us, she’s had her fair share of challenges at work, too. One challenge she highlighted was having to track down various papers to be converted into digital form, which she described as feeling like a “scavenger hunt.” Still, this and every other obstacle became a valuable learning experience. One she navigated with grace, emerging even more prepared for the “real world.”

Beyond the Office

When asked how her internship differed from a regular school week, Thalia pointed out the huge shift in hours as well as how different the learning environment felt. Instead of sitting in a classroom with teachers guiding every step, she was given real assignments and the independence to figure things out. “It was just a lot more free” she explained. Her supervisor wasn’t right there telling her what to do. She’d give her assignments, which she gets to work on independently, and that made her learn best.

The diversity of people she worked with also made the experience unique. Surrounded by professionals with different backgrounds, degrees, and certifications, Thalia often found herself learning from and connecting with people she might never have met otherwise. 

“One of the biggest culture shocks when I was there was how people just come up to you and start talking to you…everybody would be asking me what I want to do in the future and stuff like that. It was super sweet.”

Support for the Future

While she went into the internship expecting professional experience, what stood out the most was the personal support she received. Everyone was willing to help and guide Thalia with her plans for her future, get into certain colleges, and even what scholarships she should be looking for.

For Thalia, this kind of encouragement made all the difference, turning her internship into not just a career stepping stone but a source of encouragement and guidance she didn’t expect but deeply appreciated.

Catalyst Friday Interns Workshops

Alongside her office experience, Thalia also attended weekly Friday workshops with the other interns. She found the lessons practical and easy to bring back to her own student leadership group at school.

The workshop that stood out most to her was building a LinkedIn profile. “I didn't think that was something I had to worry about until years later, but now…since I'm on the lookout for jobs, I'm so glad that I was pushed to get that done.”

Thalia turned what she learned in the workshops into real steps forward for her future. Just days after the program ended, she walked into a job interview and put what she learned on those Fridays into practice. From calming her nerves with study methods to remembering to stand tall and project confidence, she carried those lessons straight into the room.

Looking Ahead

When reflecting on her experience, Thalia said the internship gave her not only confidence but also peace of mind about her future. “I always stress about not knowing exactly what I want to do, but the workshops helped me see that it’s okay not to have it all figured out. There are so many different ways to explore and find what you want.”

With a summer full of growth, challenges, and encouragement, Thalia walked away with more than work experience. She gained a clearer sense of direction, meaningful connections, and the confidence that she is on her way.

---

Thalia’s story is just one piece of the story as a grassroots organization, over 90% of our support comes from community members like you who believe in investing in the futures of youth. Your generosity fuels our mission to inspire hope, cultivate belonging, and build confidence while expanding pathways for Oakland youth. Join us today and be part of their story.

GIVE                                 VOLUNTEER                                READ MORE