Newsletter of the HVRHS Career Experience Program 

Fall 2019- Internship Issue 

Internships and Volunteering Build Skills and Connections  Summer internships and volunteer opportunities are hot! And they are great ways to find out if a particular career path feels right to you. They build skills you’ll need for your future and connect you with adults who can help mentor you. Colleges and employers look for this type of experience on a resume because it shows initiative, engagement, and a willingness to take on responsibility.   Housatonic Youth Services Bureau runs a well-established summer internship program for HVRHS students with local non-profits. They include a stipend and flexibility with other summer plans.   The Career Experience Program also posts requests to students for internships and volunteers from local organizations and helps with the application process. Or you can brainstorm your own internship or volunteer opportunity with Dr. O’Neill and turn your idea into reality. Read about what other students have done and imagine the possibilities for yourself…. 

HYSB’s Summer Internship Program Matches Students with Local Nonprofits By Caitlin Thornhill, MSW, HYSB  

HYSB Summer interns (L to R) Eli, Anthony, Emerson, Charlotte, and Mia (photo: HYSB)  Five HVRHS students participated in the HYSB Summer Internship Program with Habitat for Humanity, Noble Horizons, Sharon Audubon, Sharon Land Trust and Sharon Playhouse.  These students applied for the program last spring and worked with HYSB staff for an organizational placement that matched their interests. Local organizations and individuals funded the stipend earned by students.   Check out some of the amazing opportunities had by your classmates. 

Anthony interned with Habitat for Humanity. Anthony’s experience is unique in that he gained experience in all facets of running Habitat, from building homes in the community, to database management, to helping with its large Habitat sale held at Hotchkiss each year. Anthony learned that often in nonprofit organizations, one job serves many functions and purposes to help the organization run smoothly.   

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Charlotte who worked at Noble Horizons in their Memory Care unit as a recreation aide. Charlotte regularly played piano for the residents, planned and ran her own programming and forged relationships with the residents of Noble Horizons. Charlotte also assisted the recreational aid staff with data management for each of the residents on the unit.    Mia interned at the Sharon Playhouse this summer on its production of Beauty and The Beast. Mia worked as an assistant stage manager backstage during rehearsals and during the two-week long production. She helped the actors with costumes and was responsible for prop management and placement throughout the show. Her role backstage was invaluable to the cast and helped make for a seamless show!  Eli spent this summer working at the Sharon Audubon Summer Camp. Eli worked with both the younger and older groups of campers as an assistant camp counselor. He helped lead groups of campers on hikes, identifying and educating them about animals and facilitating games throughout the day. Eli’s love of the outdoors and working with children made this the perfect internship for him!  Emerson worked with the Sharon Land Trust this summer, and helped the Housatonic Valley Association in crossover projects throughout Sharon and the Housatonic area. His work supported their efforts to protect the scenic, recreational and natural environment of this region.  If you’d like to participate in HYSB’s Summer Internship Program contact Rebecca Sakl, the Youth Internship Program coordinator at rsakl@hysbct.org for more information. The application process begins in the spring. ◘ 

Sticky Note Tip: Start thinking about your summer internship or volunteer opportunity in late winter. March is the ideal time to get ahead of the curve and get a foot in the door. June comes quickly!   

Library Internship Helps Turn the Page for Sarah By Sarah  In the spring, Sarah worked with Career Experience to find a summer volunteer opportunity that was local, fit with her future plans to become an educator, and involved her creativity. With the help of Dr. O’Neill she created a flyer to distribute to local organizations with summer children’s programs. This flyer outlined her skills and how she could help design and execute literature-based children’s programming. Spoiler alert: It worked! 

 This summer I volunteered at Scoville Memorial Library. I worked with Children’s Librarian Molly Salisbury. Together we put on events and projects for all children and families.   I assisted with themed projects based off of the 

books she selected. For example we did a unit on homes and read about what home means to different people and animals. 

Sarah’s creativity and organizational skills tied book themes to hands-on projects for her young readers   After reading the story I helped the children use different paper and shapes to create their own house. I also helped put on the movie nights. 

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(Sarah, con’t) I shelved books and organized shelves and although these were not the most fun tasks they were very important and taught me more about alphabetizing and the Dewey Decimal System.   Throughout my experience at the library I can definitely say that I enjoyed everything that I worked on and especially loved spending time with the children from the community as I plan to go into education and teaching in college. I will definitely continue my volunteering at the library as it was so much fun and has been a phenomenal experience. ◘  

Lindsey Returns to Main Street Magazine By Lindsey 

 This summer marked my third year as a paid intern at Main Street Magazine in Millerton, NY. My work in the past months as well as in my previous years has consisted of writing short personal profiles, advice 

columns, and full-length articles for the magazine and its recently-launched website.   Through this ongoing experience, I have truly enjoyed being able to work in a collaborative space where my ideas are valued, all while getting to know the inner workings of a publication! It has been gratifying to contribute to such an admired magazine that anyone can read and share.   Additionally, I have sharpened so many valuable skills through interning at Main Street, including my abilities to effectively interview a variety of people, and analyze an 

abundance of information to determine what should be included in a piece. Also, I have grown confident in the work that I produce. I am glad to have this opportunity not only as a way to continue to write and learn but to help me navigate my future.   Namely, my time at Main Street has helped me discover the importance of trying out different paths before making any definite plans. At this point, while I may not end up pursuing a career in journalism specifically, I hope to go into a career in which my writing will be able to continuously progress and develop. Main Street has given me the platform to begin such a process.◘  

Zyaja Gains Tools to Succeed with CT Antique Machinery By Zyaja  With the help of Dr. O’Neill, this past summer I did a paid summer internship at the Connecticut Antique Machinery Association, which is a non-profit organization in Kent, CT.   This means that everyone there is a volunteer and the association is run by donations. It was interesting to see how generous people were in their donations.  

Zyaja welcomed visitors to the Antique Machinery Association and learned about the history of tools. Her internship continues through October.   

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(Zyaja, con’t) As an intern, I was a greeter and a docent. I mostly worked in their welcome center and guided people to different parts of the grounds. It helped me improve my social skills and I learned a lot about the importance of preserving machinery from the industrial revolution.   My self-confidence improved and I learned to make mistakes and learn from them. Although I did appreciate history before, the wisdom of the volunteers and my internship made me discover new meanings of history and learn that in order to progress, society has to remember where it started and came from. ◘ 

Shane Making Headlines at Lakeville Journal By Shane 

 Over the summer I had the privilege of interning at the Lakeville Journal after finding out about the opportunity from Dr. O’Neill. As someone interested in journalism as a career, this was a 

fulfilling and eye opening opportunity.   During my time there I covered local events, improving my photography skills and writing in the process. I learned about local government, by going to town halls to examine records and talk to town employees. My interpersonal skills have improved due to the many interviews I conducted, as did my command of grammar after editing the first drafts of articles.   By helping with page layout, I became more familiar with useful computer programs, and in accompanying experienced reporters on 

assignments I observed ways that they were able to craft a comprehensive story. (Shane, con’t) This experience has caused me to consider a career in journalism, perhaps as a foreign correspondent, which would combine two interests of mine, travel and writing. ◘  

Emerson Returns to His Roots at Silver Lake 

 Emerson returned to Silver Lake Conference Center this spring to work alongside Pam Arifian, director of the Northeast Regional Environmental Justice Center, who 

had this to say about Emerson’s second year with her:  I was so glad to have welcomed Emerson back to the Silver Lake garden in spring this year. He worked two hours nearly every week starting in late March until the last week of school. Having already interned with me during the spring and fall in 2018 at the Silver Lake garden, Emerson was already familiar with spring projects, and was a big help.   Emerson's interest in learning about organic gardening methods, and his great work ethic and abilities on a range of tasks made for a fantastic internship experience. With Emerson's help, we were able to set up the garden for an abundant growing season. ◘  

Career Cart Coming to a Room Near You Finding it hard to schedule time to research careers or organize a job shadow, internship, or volunteer opportunity? This fall the Career Experience Program is launching the Career Cart. Dr. O’Neill will be coming to study halls, flex, and lunch blocks. See you there! Or you can make an appointment with her in 134 by emailing moneill@hvrhs.org. ◘ 

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Valerie Focuses on Public Health in Dominican Republic  By Valerie  This past summer I went on a Public Health in the Carribean service trip with Rustic Pathways as part of the Margaret Derwin Scholar Award. I spent two and a half weeks in the Dominican Republic focusing on public health initiatives, water sanitation efforts, and being certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR.   The first few days we visited non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that focused on women and children’s health, mosquito-transmitted diesease, and healthcare for undocumented immigrants in the Dominican Republic. My group and I were informed about the harsh disparity of wealth on this island, and how that impacted health concerns.  

Valerie (second from left) working with her team to construct latrines and construct flooring. Her trip was funded by the Margaret Derwin Scholar Award  Later on, we were able to visit hospitals around the island. These were a mix of public clinics, private hospitals, and rural clinics in ‘Bateyes’. A batey is a rural community of sugar cane workers that often consists of individuals that are exposed to harsh living conditions. Since these communities are so isolated and politically underrepresented, it is difficult for them to receive the proper supplies and items needed to maintain adequate healthcare.  

For the next couple of days, our group lead health workshops in Bateyes around the island. Here, we administered anti-parasitic medications, vitamins, weighed and measured children, and gave presentations of mosquito transmitted diseases. Every month, Rustic Pathways provides these necessary workshops to these communities. It was moving to be truly immersed in these communities and directly help those that lack certain supplies.   Many communities that face poverty also lack certain sanitation essentials such as proper latrines or flooring in their home. With the help of local masons, my group and I constructed latrines and cemented floors for a number of homes in the Batey. The tiring work felt productive and meaningful. More importantly, it provided a sustainable solution for a crucial problem these homes had been facing for a long time.   I genuinely enjoy helping others, being active, and immersing myself in different cultures. I also have heavily considered a career in medicine or public health policy making. Returning home, I knew that I had done important work and I felt determined to continue my service in my own community. I encourage others to get out of their comfort zone, travel, and expose themselves to different cultures and lifestyles. ◘  

Foreign Travel Builds Cultural Intelligence and Career Skills   Foreign travel through volunteer opportunities, AFS, or the HVRHS International Travel Club helps cultivate your cultural intelligence (CQ), which is the ability to adapt and thrive in different cultural settings. It’s also a trait in demand by employers. High CQ individuals are tuned into the manifestations of culture. They use intellect, empathy, and imagination, to read situations and make non-judgmental rational decisions that avoid stereotypes and bias. Read more about CQ here. ◘ 

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