Teaching What I Learned From My Summer Internship

In the summer of 2022, I interned at an immigrant community center located in Pennsylvania as part of my graduate program. The organization’s mission of bringing communities together as well as their warm welcome to anyone who wished to join them drew me to this internship. I helped out with different summer classes. They included a newspaper class, a reading class, as well as certain art-based classes during their annual summer camp in July. I worked on many of the lesson plans to help teach these classes and co-led classes for students from a wide range of different age groups. During my time interning, I learned a lot about myself and those around me. 

• Trying is learning
  We learn by trying! I didn't have a lot of hands-on experience teaching youth except for some prior volunteer and mentorship opportunities. Therefore, I spent a lot of time learning about ways to teach students with the other co-teachers and mentors at the summer camp! Not every student has the same needs, and it is important to learn what they are to help them reach their fullest potential. The surprising challenge for me was catering to the specific academic and social needs of students ranging in age roughly from 5 to 17 years old. For example, students who were in elementary school were more interested in certain art-based classes than some students in middle or high school. 
• Mistakes will happen
  It is okay to make mistakes and not know what to do all the time! I remember that when I first started doing the internship, I accidentally provided students with hand-outs that were meant to be given to the teachers of the class. Looking back now, I realize that I should take a closer look at the handouts and clarify who they are for before handing them out. It was a learning experience, and now, a funny and lighthearted memory to look back on. 
• Embrace changes
  It is absolutely okay to change your mind. At first, I was not sure whether I would enjoy being a teacher since I do not have a lot of teaching experience. I now realize that I like several aspects of teaching and working with students! How I envisioned teaching youth compared to how it actually went was different than I expected and it really changed my perspective on teaching. Change is okay and it shows us that we are getting closer to know who we are and who we wish to become. There's beauty in that.
• Learn about yourself
  I believe that each life experience we go through can teach us more about ourselves. I realized that I really enjoy spending time with the students in the classroom, watching them grow and blossom over time. I learned I am someone who enjoys providing academic support to students who wish to learn. Seeing the students actively engaged in the lessons really touched me. Having the students engage with me and the other co-teachers outside of class time also showed me the lasting impact that teachers leave on the students. It was heartwarming to see! As individuals, we can each leave a good impression on another person through our words and actions. 

  

   

• Don’t do it alone
  It is so important to collaborate with other people to succeed. I am endlessly grateful for all the support and guidance I received from other interns, mentors, co-teachers, volunteers, and students. To give an example, while I was helping with a class as a TA, we were in the middle of playing a game with the students when I forgot how to say ‘ice cream’ in Spanish. A student then stepped in to help me translate. As much as I was a co-teacher, I was also a student, too! To provide another example, we would often have team meetings with other interns, teachers, and volunteers while we created the lesson plans for the classes we co-taught. The meetings were a safe space for us to share ideas and thoughts on what content to teach as well as what materials/resources to use! We also used this time to clarify any questions or doubts we had. I really enjoyed learning from others during the meetings as well as during the classes while I was providing support with the lessons! It is absolutely okay to ask for help. We are stronger together (cliché but true). 
• Go for it! 
  Whether that is trying new experiences or things that you may be scared to do or even things that you think you may not necessarily like! If you end up not liking the experience, that is absolutely fine! We learn a lot about what we like, and what we don't like by trying. By having an open mind, we can ultimately understand ourselves better. I know it can be scary, but I can assure you this: the anticipation is scarier than the actual doing. Learning more about who we are is a lifelong journey, so let's take our time.

In short, I learned a lot about what it means to teach and to work with others while interning at the wonderful community center! It was a very meaningful experience that taught me how important it is to connect and communicate with those around me. I am grateful I got the chance to intern at the center, and I hope these life lessons help you too! Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there – adventures await.