What I Gained From My Internship at Make Our Schools Safe

By Evan Schoenborn

I had the privilege to intern with Make Our Schools Safe, as I believe safety is the foundation of learning. Without it, education becomes fragile, interrupted by fear rather than driven by curiosity. I wanted to contribute to something tangible - something that protects not only schools as buildings, but students as people. This internship allowed me to transform concern into action.

Throughout my time with Make Our Schools Safe, I worked on shaping how the organization communicated its mission to the public. I designed promotional flyers and produced short-form videos that distilled complex issues of school safety into messages that were clear and emotionally resonant. These materials were not just advertisements, they were calls to action meant to inform communities and mobilize support. I also helped plan and organize fundraising events, collaborating with team members. Beyond planning, I assisted in securing sponsorships, learning how to approach potential partners and articulate shared values, that translated belief into investment.

What made this experience transformative was not just what I did, but what I learned. I learned how advocacy requires strategy as much as passion, and how meaningful change depends on communication that is both compelling and responsible. I gained confidence in my abilities and adaptation when plans evolved. Most importantly, I learned that creating safer schools is not the responsibility of a single institution, it is a collective effort sustained by persistence, creativity, and trust.

This internship reinforced my belief that young people can be powerful agents of change. By contributing my skills to a mission larger than myself, I discovered how purpose can turn effort into impact.