Name:  Grace Calvin

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Care Clinic at UMMC

Major(s)/Minor(s):  Psychology

Expected Graduation Year: 2014

Briefly describe your internship, co-op, research, or service- learning opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.

In my internship, I helped to manage the waiting room, take phone calls, schedule clients, and make reminder calls. I also spent time with children in the waiting room while their parents were in sessions and went to weekly meetings in which we discussed the clinical notes of the clients so that the therapists could provide insight and recommendations to their colleagues.

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company?

I love hanging out with the kids - the Clinic works with abused children, so I think it's really important that these kids have somewhere safe and fun to go and I love being able to provide that for them. I also love the insight I gained into the world of clinical psychology during staff meetings.

What have you gained from your experience that you could not have gained from another opportunity?

I have been able to really get involved in the treatment process. I observed therapy sessions and participated in meetings I would not have been able to learn from elsewhere.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

Just go for it! I had one meeting with the Shriver Center, and they immediately suggested the internship I have - I sent in my resume, did a couple interviews, and had a truly amazing summer as a result.

How do you see your experience as meaningful? This might involve skills you’ve gained, information you’ve learned, mentors you’ve connected with, or projects you’ve completed.

This experience has allowed me to explore my passion for psychology beyond academics and to make connections with interesting and passionate people. I have also been able to touch the lives of children whose experiences in life have been unfortunate at best - helping these children have fun and get better has been its own reward.

Please provide a short quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / the internship placement process / the Shriver Center:

Internships aren't scary or unavailable - they're amazing experiences that open your eyes to the world of work, and they're easy to find if you know where to look.