Internship & Volunteering

A Reflection to Accompany My Internship Paper

During my internship at Asociación Itínera, I worked with mental health volunteers to support the resocialization of individuals with mental disabilities into the communities of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain. This experience encouraged me to be more adaptable and collaborative, especially when developing support plans tailored to each individual’s needs, from students to retirees. In my Investigative Internship Paper, I particularly mention a user whose story of overcoming the social challenges brought about by her mental illness encouraged me to give my best effort each day. Watching her entire demeanor shift from one of despair to sunshine and rainbows --just from walking through the door-- always gave me hope and what we were trying to accomplish. My time interning with a government-sponsored social initiative solidified my interest in combining service with public health promotion efforts to address the biggest inequities in health.