Internship reflections – meet Marianna

At Race For The Baltic, we are always happy to welcome people who bring curiosity, passion and new perspectives to our work. This spring, Marianna joined us as an intern, contributing to several projects while learning more about practical solutions for improving the health of the Baltic Sea.

We asked Marianna a few questions about her internship experience.

Why did you choose to do your internship at Race For The Baltic?

Race For The Baltic caught my attention because of its practical, on-the-ground projects, as well as its work directly with businesses and industry to reduce phosphorus emissions. Growing up in Poland and studying in Sweden also made working with the Baltic Sea feel even more meaningful and close to home.

What have you learned so far during your internship?

Quite a lot! Among other things, I have learned how to write project proposals, collaborate and negotiate with project partners, work with representatives of governmental institutions, and create informative and engaging slides.

I have also mastered dependent drop-down lists in Excel, which may not have been on my internship wishlist, but has turned out to be surprisingly useful.

What have you enjoyed working with during your internship?

One of the best parts of the internship has been the variety. I have worked on projects related to river renaturalisation, wastewater management and industrial cleaning procedures, so no two weeks have looked the same.

But if I had to choose a favourite task, it would be creating presentations and then presenting them to clients. I enjoy taking a good slide, improving it both on my own and through feedback, and ending up with something that is much better than the first version — something I am genuinely proud to present.

What has been the most meaningful part of your internship?

Without a doubt, the team. It is so easy to learn, ask questions and do your best work when you are surrounded by colleagues who genuinely want to see you succeed.

That support made even the busiest periods, including juggling the internship with my master’s thesis, feel manageable and, most importantly, really enjoyable.

We are grateful for Marianna’s great work, positive energy and dedication during her internship. Her curiosity, attention to detail and willingness to take on new challenges have made her a highly appreciated part of the Race For The Baltic team.

Interested in doing an internship with us? Read more here.