Student Reflections on Internships
Reflection Courtesy of Brenda Silvia:
If you are interested in working with children in a school setting, I recommend getting experience with students of all ages even if you know you want to work with just one specific age group. I recommend this because it is important to understand what it is like working with children of all ages because they all need different resources and assistance depending on the stage they are at in life. Also, what you learn in your experiences with all ages will still be able to help you in other areas of work with other ages. Some people may be better at working with younger ages and some may be better at working with older adolescents. And there are some people who work best with all ages! You will never know which one you are unless you try it. An internship is a great opportunity for you to get that experience and knowledge. It is also a great opportunity for you to determine if you like the career field that you were thinking about or if you’d prefer working in a different field. There is nothing wrong with realizing a job is not for you!
GEAR UP is a great opportunity for UTC students to get involved in 1 of 3 surrounding high schools and prepare those students for college and life after high school. Working for GEAR UP includes being a TA during school hours or working in the after school tutoring program. UTC students serve as a resource for current high school students because we are very familiar with the college process, having just gone through it ourselves. Even though you will serve as a mentor to the students, the GEAR UP coordinators at UTC do a good job of serving as mentors to you as well. This ensures that the TA’s do not have to navigate through this internship experience by themselves. Then, the teachers you get assigned with at the high school work towards ensuring that you are receiving the guidance you need to be well prepared for the students too.
As an intern for GEAR UP, I was able to interact with senior students and guide them on their path after graduation to college, the military, or a career. They came to me with questions or concerns about applying to college or scholarships and I was able to assist them in whatever they needed. Working for GEAR UP is extremely fulfilling because you are able to help the next generation of college students and prepare them for success. Also, they are very flexible in working with college students and their schedule to ensure the schedule works best for everyone.
No matter where you intern at, you will be able to build great relationships and leadership skills that are beneficial to you in the future. Also, having an internship looks really good on your resume because it shows that you are prepared to begin a career following college graduation since you have already completed experience in a professional setting.