Name: Yukun Zhang
Class Year: 2026
Majors: Psychology, East Asian Languages and Cultures
Hometown: Changsha, China
Internship Organization: Future Star Summer Camp
Internship Title: Counselor
Location: ÀÏÍõÂÛ̳, PA
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
Our summer school is split into around ten groups based on age, each with about twenty kids, supervised by two counselors. The kids have different classes depending on their age. For example, the group I work with has art, swimming, robotics, science, and a performance class called Hollywood every day.
In the mornings, we greet the kids in their activity spaces, help new kids get familiar with the place, and join a morning meeting that includes everyone, which sometimes features games. We then take the kids to their different classes, assist the teachers with maintaining order, and ensure everyone is safe.
During free time, we play on the playground, have lunch, and read picture books. Each week, we have themed activities like Cheers Day, where each group teaches the kids a cheer, and they compete with each other. We also have a carnival with games like mini-golf and bowling.
So, basically, my job is to ensure the kids’ well-being from the moment they arrive until they go home, making sure their day is fun and fulfilling while keeping an eye on their mental health.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I applied for this internship because I wanted to explore various career paths within psychology to see which one I might enjoy. This led me to try out the education sector, where I could gain practical experience and see if it aligns with my interests and goals.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
My favorite part of this internship is when the kids give me a huge hug every morning when they see me. Sometimes, they'll even give me a kiss or a card they made the night before. These moments are incredibly heartwarming and make all the hard work worth it.
Another favorite moment of mine was during a game of Hangman. In this game, you guess letters to form a word, and if you guess wrong, a little stick figure gets drawn closer to being hanged. One child had his stick figure "hanged," and another child came over and drew a few bricks under the feet of the figure, telling him, "Hey, now you won't be hanged." These kids often do such heartwarming things without even realizing it, and those moments are truly special.
What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn't expect?
Something I didn't expect to learn from this internship is how unique and individual each child's way of interacting with the world can be. We had a boy named Owen in our class who never spoke and wouldn't even tell us his name on the first day. I thought he might be on the autism spectrum and tried to encourage him to talk, but he remained silent. Then, one day, during a class, the teacher asked each counselor's name, and to my surprise, Owen could answer all of them correctly. I realized he was much more aware of his surroundings than I had thought.
During a science class, we were building a boat together, and Owen went off to a corner by himself. I went over to check on him, and although he didn’t speak at first, I sat quietly with him. After about ten minutes, he finally started talking to me. He explained why he didn't want to build the boat with everyone else and asked if I wanted to play a different game with him. From then on, he often sat on my lap and shared stories about his life, teaching me his invented games with great seriousness.
This experience taught me that every child is special and has their own way of dealing with things and interacting with the world. We often expect kids to be outgoing and confident in introducing themselves, but that’s not every child's preference. We need to be more patient and understanding, allowing each child to express themselves in their own time and way.
Career & Civic Engagement Center Psychology East Asian Languages and Cultures