Meet Faria Alam, a junior Integrative Studies major with a concentration in Leadership and Organizational Development. She is a Fall intern at GMU's Registered Student Organization (RSO) Lead Team. Read more about her internship experience below:
This semester, I worked with George Mason University's Registered Student Organization (RSO) Lead Team as a Student Organization Engagement Intern. My role involved supporting more than 500 student organizations by reviewing Mason360 event submissions, answering questions, helping organizations navigate university policies, participating in large-event meetings, and directing students to resources such as University Events or the Student Funding Board when needed.
A typical shift could include reviewing event requests, responding to emails, meeting with student leaders, or helping an organization work through an issue with its event. One of my favorite experiences was supporting the Get Connected Fair, where I helped students navigate the event and was interviewed on camera about the importance of student involvement within our community here at Mason.
This internship strengthened my communication, problem-solving, stakeholder engagement, and organizational skills. One of the biggest lessons I learned was that being helpful does not always mean having every answer. I think it also means knowing when to ask questions, use available resources, or connect someone with the right person. I have become much more confident working independently while still understanding the importance of asking for guidance when needed.
This experience has also helped clarify my career goals by showing me that I am especially interested in consulting, project management, research, and other collaborative work where I can contribute to a larger project or solution. I would recommend this internship to students who enjoy working with people and want to better understand how campus organizations operate behind the scenes.