Name: Kari Carmody
Graduation Year: 2022
Major: Psychology and Spanish
On campus involvement: E-board member of running club
Where and When did you Intern: Capital Area YMCA through Americorps and the Bonner Foundation during the summer of 2019 (June -August)
How did you hear about the internship and what was the interview process like?
I heard about the internship from an email I got from Handshake. I got interviewed by three different non-profit organizations on on-campus interviews, then I was able to rank the my choices. Lastly, the organizations picked who they wanted their interns to be.
Describe your role.
My role as a “Healthy Eating Associate” was to support the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the Greenwood Avenue Farmer’s Market.
What was an average day like?
I was completing and double checking necessary paperwork to ensure success of SFSP and that those children and adolescents receive adequate number of meals. If I was outside of the office, I was at the Farmer’s Market greeting people, managing the food site, and serving food.
What was the best memory you had interning?
My best memory I had while interning was the Water Festival. It was great to see all the children smile, laugh, play with water balloons, and go down the slides.
What have you learned from this experience?
The most important thing I learned is that any no matter how small (even if it seems menial like sending emails or making copies) is important and contributes to an important end goal. Sometimes it is frustrating or boring in the moment, but the fact is that what you’re doing needs to be and it is important.
What is one skill you feel as if you’ve improved upon while at your internship?
A skill that I feel as if I’ve improved upon is reasoning for myself and independence. For example, this meant not having to check with my manager over every small detail.
Do you have any advice for anyone who is applying for an internship?
Whatever it is that you are doing, find meaning in it. Reflect and express the energy that you want others to treat you with, then people will really enjoy working with you.