Community Health Internship Quotes
Maria Dixon
American Cancer Society
Winter 2004
Working at the American Cancer Society helped me realize that planning and implementing a program is very difficult and time consuming. Health 482 (Program Planning) was a great class because it taught me the proper steps I needed to go through to develop a successful program. I also learned the importance of having solid computer writing, public speaking skills, and being able to build a coalition. Evaluating a program is also a skill I used and found to be vital to the overall success of the program.
There were a few difficulties that came as the internship progressed. I had a few problems with my supervisor. I did not feel like she was the best example or resource. She was not in the office on most days and was not very good about giving feedback or suggestions. She did not help or guide me in any way. She was not clear on how she wanted things done. It was confusing and difficult at times, but with the help of my committee I think we did a great job.
I remember feeling very overwhelmed in the beginning thinking that I did not have much to offer because I felt that I was not qualified to work in a professional health setting. I felt in a sense that “things may get worse.”
However, as I got my feet wet so to speak, the work began to be enthralling. To catch a glimpse of a role in which a health professional plays was intriguing. The very fact that their sole purpose is to improve the quality of life says a lot. I became inspired because I enjoyed the “challenge to make things better.”
Working with the ACS made me want to always be involved with them. I think I will continue to volunteer for them in the future.
Christina Crossley
Utah County Health Department
Fall Semester 2003
My experience as an intern was remarkable. Again, I am grateful for the impact that it had on me in not only teaching me about the profession itself, but also for the character building that took place. I desire to be of service to my community. The health profession enables that kind of service to be implemented. I hope to carry that kind
Heidi Sorenson
United Way of Utah County
Spring/Summer 2003
I used a lot of the skills that I had acquired in my major classes at BYU. I knew how to run the computer programs that are essential to any organization. Writing skills, such as how to write a PSA or a press release came in very handy. I felt well prepared to take on the tasks given to me because of the classes that we required to take. I am a people person and that came in very handy because I was constantly interacting with those in community positions.
I learned a lot about not only myself but also about how to work in the “real” world. I am more creative in my approach to finding solutions and making things work for the community. I have an increased bank of knowledge about what needs to be done to help people and how to make sure that happens. I realize that change is not an easy thing to see happen and that you must fight to see that it does.
Mike Tanner
Murray Park Center
Winter 2003
I have met some wonderful people and had the opportunity to make new friends and work with old friends. I have learned about the direct effect that the health field has and its important role in our society. Through this internship I have grown. I have a broader knowledge of computer skills and enhanced my previous skills. I have learned to research and present programs and ideas. I have learned to me more confident in myself and my work.
Quinn Christensen
Murray Park Center
Winter 2004
I feel that this internship will help me
succeed in whatever
I do in my life. I gained experience through working for the
Andrea Ward
B’N Fit Health and Fitness Center
Spring 2003
This internship has ultimately prepared me for a job as a health educator by allowing me to practice speaking in front of a group, working on committees, and working one on one with others. I have also been given the chance to plan, write, and implement different programs.
This internship has required me to use skills in working with people and writing and implementing programs. I felt very comfortable working with people one on one and talking to a group of people at one time. I did not feel adequate in writing a program but once it was written I had no problem implementing the program. With help from Barb I was able to do everything and now I feel confident in my ability to plan and implement programs. During the internship I think that the one new skill that I developed was planning a big event. I now know what is required to plan a big community event and what needs to be done to get the event done on time. I have learned how to approach community members to become involved in events and I have learned to go to gather information on various topics what I don’t have enough information.
I have been blessed with an experience provider who wants to see me get a great job and who is helping me to find work. I have learned more in one summer with this agency that I have learned in four years in college. It has provided me with an experience that school could not and has given me skills that have made me marketable. I will forever remember this experience as the one that got me started in the health education field.
D. Joanne Mortensen
American Cancer Society
Fall 2003/Winter 2004
I am extremely blessed to have worked for
Faye Keller in
this internship. In a recent meeting, she told me that she wants to
help me any
way she can to get the experience I need to build me resume. Any future
that I
have with the American Cancer Society would be due to the opportunities
that
Faye made available for me. The contacts that I made in
Ultimately, interning with Faye at the American Cancer Society got my foot in the door for many great opportunities. Whether I decide to work as an employee of the ACS or a volunteer, I intend to maintain both my relationship with Faye and my involvement in the American Cancer Society for a long time to come.
Emily Barker
Utah Valley State
Fall Semester 2003
Those that are employed at the
This internship has been a great influence on my future. After my required internship credit was through, they invited me to stay on and be a paid intern. This has definitely provided me with more experience in this field. Through this I have been given the opportunity to work as a Student Assistant with their new Tobacco Control and Prevention Grant. As well as after graduation they would like me to be the Project Coordinator for a new grant for Substance Abuse and Prevention. So as you can see, through this internship, I have gained much needed experience in the health field and I have received job offers.
Lindsey VanderStek
American Cancer Society
Winter 2004
As a result of this internship, I feel that I can go a lot more places. Before I started the internship I always wondered how I would get a job. Although I felt that all the classes I took with the major were very informative, I did not know how to use what I was taught in the real community health world. Now I know that I could qualify for a number of jobs and be confident in myself while doing so.
Ashley Williams
Intermountain Health Care
Winter 2004
I learned a great deal through my experience as an intern for IHC. I feel that this internship has taught me to be professional in my work. The experience I gained when presenting the Utah Walks program has helped develop my public speaking skills. I am much more confident in my ability to teach groups as well as promote health programs. Although at first I was a bit hesitant about presenting to community groups, this ended up being one of my favorite parts about the internship. I feel the BYU Community Health program adequately prepared me for this internship. I was confident when planning the Utah Walks promotional days and both days turned out to be a success.
Courtney Christiansen
DC Safe Kids Coalition
Fall Semester 2003
I was so excited to participate in today’s events. So many times in class, my professors tried to create a mental picture for me of what the real world would be like, but I am now convinced that you cannot fully grasp the concepts you are taught until you are able to see them first hand.
It was so fun to see everything fit together. In Community Health, there are so many different aspects that you can focus on, and everyone’s tends to do their own thing. Today was really great because I was able to see the efforts of many people come together to produce an event that was very successful. It makes me excited for when I can work in the community. I am excited to go back and finish school, and even more excited to start my adventure as a Community Health Educator!!
Also, the relationships that I was able to develop with the coalition members were priceless. I learned more from them than I ever have or will from my textbooks. I have loved working with such dedicated people and have grown so much in my knowledge and abilities by learning from them.
My work here at Safe Kids has hardly been work—at least not to me. I have been able to work towards an outstanding goal of preventing childhood injuries in the DC Metro area and I feel very humble and honored to have worked with such great people in the Public Health field. I have truly learned many life lessons while here in DC and will always look back with fond memories of my time spent with SAFE KIDS.
I am very excited to work in the health field and I appreciate the effort put forth by those in this organization.
Words of Advise to the new Intern
When I first began my internship with SAFE KIDS, I was able to read over some of the things that were written and produced by the intern who had previously been here. I really loved reading her thoughts and suggestions, so I choose now to leave my own words of wisdom.
I guess the first and most important piece of advice that I could give to anyone working for SAFE KIDS is to enjoy every minute of it!! There will definitely be times of chaos and stress, but just remember who you are working to protect—the children!! To me, they are the biggest motivation to keep working. And they are the ones that will appreciate your efforts. To understand and appreciate the reasons for why you are working will only enhance your experience at SAFE KIDS.
Next, I would suggest getting to know the National staff. This was difficult for me because I worked so closely with Pat, so I don’t expect a lot from you. All it takes are friendly hellos and smiles—the rest will fall into place. Take advantage of the fact that the National staff is close and convenient—they are valuable resources. And mostly, they are a lot of fun to work with!
Also, get to know the coalition members. They love new faces, and love getting to know new people. DC SAFE KIDS is an outstanding coalition—one with great people who have great intensions. Listen to their suggestions and take note of their actions. These people are truly dedicated to this cause and can greatly benefit you while you are here!
And last,
but certainly not least, enjoy DC! Take every opportunity possible to
see the
sites, smells, and sounds of the nation’s capital. There are so many
fun things
to do in and around the city—all you have to do is
look. Take advantage of the monuments,
the museums,
as well as the everyday sites of the
city. I promise that you will never have
a boring day in the
Amber Oestreicher
Utah County Health Department
Winter 2004
I was able
to try and make a policy change with
My future will also be impacted by the internship I had in small ways. I am now more aware of health issues on the news and the legal issues around tobacco policy. In the future, whenever I have the opportunity to do so, I will be more likely to speak up and take a stand on the issues that I have learned so much about during my internship. I think I will be more involved in the community and more aware of what issues are affecting the community. My desire to participate will increase and I will have more confidence in knowing that I can make a difference for the good and betterment of the community around me.
Jennie Lockhart
Utah County Health Department -
Winter 2004
Now that I have had some real experiences working in this field I feel more prepared to get a professional job once I graduate, whereas, if I had only taken the classes, but not had the hands-on experience, I know I would not feel as prepared to enter the health education field. I was very lucky and did not run into any major problems while working on my internship with the Health Department.
Overall my internship was a wonderful experience that will impact my future for good, not only throughout my career, but in every aspect of my life. My internship taught me how to work hard, how to work with others, how to extend myself in service to other people and to the community and, most importantly, how to leave my comfort zone and stretch myself.
Rachel Knutti
Murray Park Center
Spring/Summer 2004
The internship has also added to my professional growth by showing me how to start a program. I learned a lot of these things in class, but it was really different to actually do some of them.
After completing this internship I am more prepared as a health educator in several areas. I understand that there are so many different skills tried to a career of a health educator. I learned a lot about public relations, marketing, business, and exercise through this internship. I feel more prepared to go out and work with the public as I have learned certain public relation tools to help better enlist their support and favor. I have learned that marketing and business have a lot to do with health education.
Amanda Lawlor
The American Lung Association of New
Mexico
Summer 2004
All of the internship experiences have contributed greatly to my professional growth. I feel that this internship was the greatest “lab” of my college career, providing me with hands-on experience, working beside seasoned health professionals. I feel I am much more employable now because I have professional experience, coupled with scholastic education.
The other great value that I see in this experience is that I now have practice with the skills and methods employed by effective community health educators. These skills include professional writing skills (press release, fact sheets), media advocacy, coalition building, fundraising, and program evaluation and reporting. My resume has doubled in size due to the variety of experiences I have had as part of my internship.