I dedicated the majority of my Summer in 2024 to being a part of the SUNY Washington Internship Program. I learned so much and am so glad that I took advantage of this opportunity! I made so many new friends, tried amazing food, and got to experience true city life, which is something I have never experienced before.
During my time in Washington DC I interned at Bread for the City, which is a non-profit organization that works to combat poverty among DC residents. Bread for the City has many different programs and services for DC residents, some including clothing, food, legal, medical, social, and advocacy. I served as a Social Services Intern and had the opportunity to work with those who are suffering from the housing crisis, and people who are experiencing homelessness. Although my focus was in social services, I had the privilege to work with a lot of different programs within the organization. I helped manage volunteers, assisted during events with our garden coordinator, and assisted voter registration efforts for our clients. I was privileged to do front line work with community members, and it is something I will never forget. The employees at Bread for the City were incredibly kind, inspiring, and encouraging.
The atmosphere within the internship program was very welcoming. Dr. Powell helped to ensure we all adjusted well to the city and made sure we had a diverse set of speakers and field trips during our time. Dr. Powell went through many efforts to provide speakers who were well versed in social services, which was extremely considerate, and helped me gain more knowledge on the different types of social work I can practice eventually. I loved the opportunity to visit museums with classmates and become familiar with the city as a whole.
I am going to be a senior this Fall of 2024, and I am very excited to bring back all that I have learned throughout my internship to the Social Work department. The SUNY Washington Internship Program helped me to solidify that I chose the right profession, which is a big relief. My plan is to attend graduate school and receive my Master’s degree in Social Work, with a certificate in Local Government Studies (this plan may change… I’m not making any promises!).
Although I am still unsure of what area of social work I would like to serve in, the program helped me understand how beautiful social work is. Social workers have the ability to create safe, and empowering environments for clients so they can recognize their own needs. I am no longer nervous about going into my senior year, because the program helped confirm that social work is something I am passionate about.