The Stay in School Mentoring Project involves being a mentor to serve as a positive role model and provide guidance, support, and encouragement to a student in the Clark County School District. I chose to apply to this internship because I felt that it tied into my field of interest, which is school psychology. There are no prior educational requirements needed beforehand in order to be successful in this internship. As long as you’re willing to be there for your mentee and know what is expected of you as a mentor then that’s a great start. This internship has benefited my future career in several ways. I have built my relationship skills in both my personal and professional life by building trust and connecting with my mentees. Getting to meet with middle school students has given me insight into youth development. Some of the things I have had to work with them on involve behavioral and personal issues. I have to listen to them and guide them in ways that they personally would like to improve. Getting to be a part of a community is another benefit I’ve gained from being a mentor. Even though I primarily work one on one with my mentees, I’ve gotten the chance to learn more about everyone else who is involved in their life and wants to see them succeed such as the school counselor, their parents, and teachers. I have gained new perspectives by viewing and understanding problems through the lens of my mentee. After being in this internship for a few months, I am just as interested in the field of school psychology and am excited to continue to learn more about everything it entails. The next steps would be to continue to mentor students and to gain more experience through other positions to learn more about all other parts of the job. One piece of advice that I have for incoming interns is to stay committed and remain patient. The mentoring process may not have quick, instant results but it is extremely rewarding.
I'm so glad this has helped you Susan- you'll be incredible as a School Psychologist, no doubt about that. It was wonderful to have you in class, I look forward to seeing what you do next!