Where are you completing your internship and what is your role there?

Blank Children’s Hospital specifically at their Center for Advocacy and Outreach. I am their program intern helping with all of their programs as needed. They have a variety of injury prevention and health education programs that I help with, including child passenger safety, child assault prevention, childbirth education, helmet education, healthy eating programs, and medical outreach programs. 

What does your work look like day-to-day? Is there a project, responsibility or moment that has stood out so far?

Every day looks different, which I have really enjoyed. Some days we’d be out in the community providing education, like the Des Moines Parks and Recreation summer program where we did hot car and summer safety education for kids or I’d be in the office helping with data collection or making program materials. What stood out to me was the Des Moines Parks and Rec programming where I taught kids about summer safety and hot car safety and worked to design and create the summer safety display case in the hospital. Both were opportunities and projects that I got to be involved in the planning and implementation processes for and got to work on hands-on from start to finish. 

What have you learned through this experience about your field, the organization or yourself?

I have learned a lot through this internship. I didn’t know much about the variety of programs that the Center for Advocacy and Outreach has and all the different kinds of programs they have and offer in the local community and statewide. Also, I learned a lot about car seats that I didn’t know before, how complex, unique, and somewhat difficult they can be to work with and manage. I learned a lot about myself too and my knowledge and abilities; I surprised myself in how much I was able to accomplish and do on my own and with the team’s help throughout my internship. I was a lot more equipped than I thought I was. Finally, I also learned a lot about public health and all of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into it, the data collection, grant writing, and business side of things that truly go into making these programs function and sustainable for the future. 

How has UNI prepared you for this internship — through coursework, faculty support or other experiences?

With my public health courses and all of the opportunities and experiences that came with them, I felt capable and confident in my internship, especially once I got started on all of the projects and programs I was involved with and in. The planning and evaluating class and the implementing public health programs class were both super helpful and I applied what I learned in those classes to my daily work. I also used the real experiences that I got to have in my classes with the campus programming that we did and the projects that we did during class and brought that experience to my internship. UNI was a big part in my internship. 

Has this experience shaped or clarified your plans after graduation? If so, how?

It has shaped my plans after graduation; it really clarified that this is exactly what I want to do with my career. It opened my eyes to child passenger safety and I signed up to be a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician after I graduate. I even applied for two jobs with my internship organization because I had just a great experience and there happened to be openings. 

What would you tell another student who is wondering whether an internship is worth it?

I would say to that student that an internship gives you an opportunity to work directly with professionals in your field and learn from them. It’s a great way to test drive certain aspects and fields within your major to find what exact path you want to go on with your specific degree. It’s a great way to apply the skills you’re learning in class and learn more about yourself before a full-time job and career. It’s a lot more low-stakes in that way but can also be a great opportunity to showcase your skills to a potential employer post-internship. To build those connections and have that mentorship and guidance from someone in your prospective career. 

Anything else you’d like to share? 

If possible, having multiple internships throughout your college career is great to have some variety and try out different things within your field and degree.