Name: Emma Samstein
Class Year: 2023
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Internship Organization: The Shipley School
Job Title: Lead Counselor
Location: ÀÏÍõÂÛ̳, PA
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
I spend my days working with kids! I plan, create, organize, and execute daily activities for numerous kids every day. I work to make educational activities that are accessible to every kid. I work as a lead counselor at camp and have two to three groups of campers come to my room for music and performing arts activities.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I applied for this internship because I knew I wanted to work with kids as a future career and believed that this leadership opportunity would give me a chance to hone my communication skills and educator skills. I also thought this internship would offer me countless resources and connections I could use as I continue to look for long-term career options.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
My favorite part of this internship has been getting the opportunity to practice leading a classroom full of kids. I have loved getting to create a curriculum I myself am excited about and sharing my excitement with my kids. I feel like I’ve been given the opportunity to get paid for having fun and doing the things I love. I have loved getting surprised by the thing these students teach me, and I am excited to get to keep learning in this environment!
What is most rewarding about your internship?
There are many aspects of my internship that make it rewarding. It has been an exciting journey to watch timid, nervous kids build confidence in themselves and shine into enthusiastic, kind, and adventurous kids! It feels like a once in a lifetime moment when I get to watch a student do something they had previously been too afraid to do-like jumping into the pool or trying something they’d never had before and enjoying it — like making sushi for the first time and enjoying it because they were the ones to make it!
Visit the Summer Internship Stories page to read more about student internship experiences.