Our panel presents diverse summer internship experiences that fostered personal growth and professional development. One member worked at the Henry Sheldon Museum, engaging in collections management and educational programming, enhancing their understanding of art history through practical application. Another speaker at GirlForward facilitated ESL classes for refugee and immigrant girls, discovering that interactive methods like games and storytelling significantly increased student engagement. A therapeutic assistant intern at a pediatric clinic collaborated with a licensed social worker and therapists, providing individualized support to neurodiverse children and learning the importance of adaptability in challenging environments. Lastly, a member at a rehabilitation hospital for children with autism developed communication techniques and gained insights into cultural diversity while assessing and guiding children’s rehabilitation efforts. Collectively, these experiences highlight the integration of local and global perspectives, essential skills for life beyond Mount Holyoke College.

Moderator: Yaldira Felix Castro, Assistant Director and Pre-Law Advisor
Posse Scholars Mentor

Autism Rehabilitation Assistant for Children
Kara Jing ’26, Psychology major

Amazing Summer at GirlForward
Sumaiya Jahan ’25, Psychology & Sociology double major/Cognitive Neuroscience minor

Reframing the Classroom: Affirmative Education for Neurodivergent Youth
Kai Grunsten ’25, Psychology and English double major

I Became Mothman
Zora Duquette-Hoffman ’26, Art History major & French minor & Museums, Archives, and Public Histories

Speaker name: Kara Jing
Title: Autism Rehabilitation Assistant for Children
This summer, I had the transformative opportunity to intern at a rehabilitation hospital, where I played a hands-on role in helping children with autism improve their skills. My tasks ranged from assessing each child’s abilities to guiding them through tailored exercises and activities, all while fostering collaboration between the children, teachers, and parents. One of the most powerful lessons I learned was the importance of patience and adaptability in navigating the unique challenges faced by these children. Through this experience, I gained a deeper understanding of autism and the communication strategies needed to support neurodiverse individuals. The cultural diversity of the children further enriched my learning, allowing me to see their progress through a broader, more empathetic lens. This experience not only reinforced the concepts I learned in college but also ignited a passion for working in this field.

Speaker name: Overworked Interns
Title: Amazing Summer at GirlForward
GirlForward is a non-profit organization located in Chicago, Illinois. The mission of this organization is to uplift, support, and empower refugee and immigrant high school girls, aged 14-22. While it is an opportunity to learn English, it is also a place where girls can have a safe space, make friends, and be themselves. My role in this organization was a Teaching Intern where I designated engaging lesson plans for ESL learning and hands-on activities to enhance the learning experience. I connected with students through various activities outside of the classroom and helping the supervisor host events such as a potluck, talent show, and a celebration ceremony.

Speaker name: Kai Grunsten
Title: Reframing the Classroom: Affirmative Education for Neurodivergent Youth
This presentation will present anecdotes, techniques, and conflicts from a summer internship assisting at an educational pediatric program. Having worked extensively in a unique and individualized classroom for neurodiverse students, I gained important insight surrounding the impacts of flexibility and personalization within a classroom environment, and the ways in which differing classrooms serve and support different students. With that in mind, how might educators investigate the traditional lecture setup? What benefits and possible challenges might arise from creating a more flexible learning environment, especially working with neurodiverse youth?

Speaker Name: Zora Duquette-Hoffman
Title: I Became Mothman
Throughout the summer, I had the opportunity to work at a small town museum in their collections, as well as with the local community in the education department. Honestly, this involved vacuuming a lot of moths out of a lot of old clothing. However, it also connected me with aspects of my local community and our history that I had no idea existed. Small-town museums don't just hold a bunch of oddities, they provide an opportunity for specific research into and education about the history of an area that would not normally be represented in a large institution's collection. Also, they allow people to learn about their area in ways that matter to them and cater to what they care about. My summer taught me how important this can be to people of all ages!