The End Of My Internship Journey!

Hello Everyone!

On my last day of internship, I followed the outreach program held by Pustaka Miri. It is a regular activity that is carried out as a part of giving back and educating the community that stays in the rural area.

My destination only took an hour drive to reach the rural school.

The principal and teachers greeted us as we arrived and showed us around the school. The school may look small but it is very comfortable and the children are very friendly and smart. It was interesting experience for me going to rural school as it opens up my perspective of how things work in rural area. The outreach program is considered as a noble action that helps the community by helping them through providing education, teaching them skills and providing goods to the community that stays in the rural area.

The outreach program took place at a primary school located in the rural areas of Miri, the task that was given to me on that day is to help out with the activities for the children and help with other preparation and goods that needed to distribute to the school children. The activities on that day consist of me distributing notebooks and stationary while Pustaka Miri staff gave a talk in creating awareness of the importance of books and the use of library. Thus, there were also two representatives from the Red Crescent Society that also came to the school to teach the children on first aid kid. On top of that, the program ended with the activities that me and another intern was asked to monitor, which is making use of recycling newspaper into a fashion clothes. The children were very excited and enjoy making their outfit. Overall, this experience is by far the most interesting part for me as I get to see and be a part of that community that help and gives back to the people.

Nevertheless, through out my internship experience, I have learnt real life practices and also learn to work under pressure while working in a team. All this invaluable lessons cab benefit me and prepared me for my next job.  

Finally, I would like to say thanks to my lecturer for her guidance and teachings through out my university experience. Now I’m one step closer to graduation!

Michelle Shak

7d8b5929/14575042

Curtin University Sarawak

Preparation for Research!

Hello everyone!

It has been quite hectic week recently and working in Public Relations field requires the person to be updated with the latest news, issues and happenings around the globe.  In my last two weeks of internship, I was given the chance to do research in assisting the Regional Manager on finding the right book using their online website catalogue services called OPAC.

I was given the task to find the appropriate book for the upcoming report on “Hari Wanita” that was done by Pustaka Miri which I was required to use their online website services. Before I start my research, one of the staff, Mdm. Lilian had introduced, explained and taught me on how to use the online public access catalogue to research a specific book that is located in the library or can be found online. 

After I was brief thoroughly on the online catalogue services, I start using it to allocate the specific book that is related to “Hari Wanita” in both languages that is English and Bahasa Malaysia. I find the info that Mdm Lilian had taught me is very useful as it helps to narrow down the book search and it also notify where is the book allocated. Plus, the privilege of using this online catalogue services are provided as long as you are a member of Pustaka Miri, which makes it convenient for the students, teachers, researchers or even lecturers to use it.  I find that, this service is very beneficial for people who are doing researching. After finding few of the books that I’ve researched, I brought the books to the regional manager, as she requires more book reference for her report on “Hari Wanita”.   

Furthermore, on that day itself, I was lucky to be invited to join the official staff meeting.  It was indeed my first time sitting in the boardroom with so many staffs but I’d really enjoy attending the meeting as it helps me to widen my knowledge. While attending all the meetings by Pustaka Miri, I have learned a lot from listening and watching the staff managing work and discussion. Also, being in the boardroom allows me to know more on the internal and external work or activities organized by Pustaka Miri.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

Best Regards,

Michelle Shak

Curtin University Sarawak.

14575042

Fourth Week Into My Internship

Hello everyone! 

Since my last blog post, there are so many events and paperwork’s needed to be done because there is a lot of upcoming programs and events held by Pustaka Miri.

One of the tasks that were appointed to me was designing the tickets, poster and also writing media release for the screening event. My mentor handed me the required information regarding the event in order to help me to distinguish what is needed to be written in the media release and what types of information should be shown in the poster. After I was done with the task, my mentor took a look at my work and edited it together with me as to make sure everything is right before it goes to printing.       

After preparing all the required paperwork, me and the other interns was given the permission to managed the decorations on the event with the help of few staff member.

                 [Staff lending a hand with the decoration for the official program on that day]

   

[In preparation for the progrmme]

Me and another intern was in charged handling the poster title of the programme, what we did here was decorating the staircase of pustaka Miri with paper design animal shape which we choose “Owl”. As it suits with the theme of the main programe of that day, so there were paper owls posted up along the stairs case  with the title of the movie screening.  Decoration wise was good as everything was colourful and attractive for the young kids.

Throughout my internship week, my mentor from time to time will give us an extra assignment that allows us (interns) to contribute ideas and strategies that can benefit and at the same time enhance the awareness for Pustaka Miri

As the time pass, the night of the official program has finally started. To start of the timeline of the event on that day, here are few pictures accompanied with the post as to help everyone get a sense of what task that I was involved in.

[VIP SITTING AREA]

                                       [THE VIP, PUSTAKA STAFF & THEIR FAMILY

                                                                GROUP PHOTO]

Other than that, my mentor also appointed me and another intern as an Emcee for an Internal Official Program by Pustaka Miri.  I wrote and prepared the speech in Bahasa Melayu, as it was my first time preparing official speech in different language and surprisingly my mentor was pleased with the script outcome. Indeed, it made me happy and at the same time it made me even want to work harder so I can make my mentor feel proud or at least pleased with the job that I have done.  Below are the pictures taken that night during my Emceeing and the staff that make the program a success and also the wonderful crowd that attended that day and participated in the activities that we held.

Indeed, it was a new experience for being an Emcee. I really enjoy talking to the crowd and entertaining them. I have no stage fright but just a bit of nervous. Having the guts to speak in in front of large audiences or publics requires practiced and I shall practice until I excel. Communicating back with the audiences is important because, went an audience communicates back to you, you know your message of awareness has reached to their knowledge or at least concern. As a Public Relations intern in Pustaka Miri, I realize meeting new people every day at work is common and building that correlation with some one takes time and therefore, in my honest opinion, Public Relations should have good communication skills with people because it is important who you make connection in the future.  Overall, the official program went very well and good jobs to everyone to contributed in making sure the event goes right,

My next post will be regarding about a photo exhibition with another intern and I organized. Well, last but not least, the last week of my internship I participated a field trip to the outskirt of Miri. Which is called “Outreach Niah”, it targeted on kindergartens and primary school students to offer them education activities, supplies, trainings and more. 

Do stay around and await for my next post! 

Best Regards,

Michelle Shak
7d8b5929/14575042
Curtin University Sarawak 

First Week of Internship

Hello everyone! My name is Michelle Shak from Curtin University based in Miri, Sarawak. Like everyone else that is taking this unit, I have gone through a lot of interviews and sending out resume until I finally found the right placement. I started my internship on a full time basis at Pustaka Miri, from 15^th of August till 20^th of September 2013. Well, working in the Public Relations department for the first time, it is definitely an eye opener and a new experience for me. 

The first few days at work was nerve wrecking, as I was worried for not being able to meet their standards or expectations but as time goes by, I realized that what I have learnt through out my course have prepared me for this internship.

First day coming to work, my supervisor gave me a tour of the working place and introduced to me to the person in charge of each department. After the basic introduction, I was assigned to a desk and been given files to look through the public relations records to know their activities that they have done in the past and also future events.

Not only that, my supervisor also took the time and brought me to the customer services center to register as a member in Pustaka Miri. To be able to use their online website services for research and planning. My supervisor also taught me on how to use the Information system to search for readings, articles or books online, which I find very useful and helpful at the same time in helping me doing research.

The tasks that I was assigned to in my first week of working were doing media clippings, press release and media kit. I was glad that my supervisor trusts me enough to allow me to do the job, as I am still new. It made me very happy and felt welcomed. All the other staff was friendly and also helpful as they are more than glad to assist me when I have enquiries regarding about any task.

My next post will be updating on the 10 days of working and the events that me and another intern had organized. Well, from my point of view, working at Pustaka Miri has allowed me to meet so many new people and also learn new things that can benefit me in the future.

I wish everyone all the best and I hope everyone is also having fun doing their internship as I am.

Best Regards,

Michelle Shak (Curtin University Sarawak)

7d8b5929/14575042