This summer I have been interning at The Just One Project (TJOP), which is a non-profit organization that helps feed the community and help unhoused people find homes and get back on their feet. I have been working with the people who work to find affordable housing and help their clients become self-sufficient. I am looking to pursue a career in clinical psychology and I feel that this opportunity has provided me with many valuable experiences. Since I am still in the early stages of my internship, I have not learned all that there is to know about this program and the people it serves. However, I have learned about the work that goes on behind the scenes. I saw groups of volunteers putting together “essentials bags'' to pass out at a veterans event. I listened to case managers interact with their clients in celebration of their achievements and in determination to improve their lives. These experiences have and will continue to aid me in my future endeavors. As an aspiring clinical therapist, interpersonal skills are essential to success. It is also important to be able to identify the type of support a client needs, which is something that the case managers at TJOP excel at.
Even as I am learning new skills, the things that I have learned throughout my academic career have aided me during this internship. As a psychology major, I have taken my fair share of classes dedicated to studying human behavior. Of course I am no professional, but these classes have taught me about social interactions and how wording, body language, tone, and even facial expressions can shift a conversation. There is still much for me to learn about conversing with people in a professional setting, but I feel that this knowledge has given me a strong base for this particular lesson.
Interning at The Just One Project has introduced me to a career path that was previously unknown to me. The case managers at TJOP are motivated, resourceful, and dedicated to helping their clients. In order to enter this profession and possibly become a case manager at a similar non-profit organization, one would need to have experience in case management and community outreach.
My advice to future interns is to approach internship opportunities with a goal for what you want to learn and which skills you want to develop while keeping an open mind. Not all learning opportunities look the same and in the moment may seem irrelevant to what your goals are. Remember that every experience allows you to grow!
The photo below is a picture of the no-cost community market run by TJOP. Photo credits: Fox5 Las Vegas Local News
