The Community Life Services department had a unique opportunity this June to spend two weeks with Emma, a rising high school junior, as an intern! We have not hosted many internships or service-learning opportunities and Emma set a fine standard for more students moving forward.
About the Internship
Kari Schrader, CLS Director, worked to create for Emma a meaningful and hands-on internship related to senior living. Emma spent her time shadowing Kari, diving headfirst into the ins and outs of the activities here at Ardenwoods. Her hands-on experience here included decorating for special events, delivering reminders, trip confirmations, and advertisements almost daily to our multiple areas of interest around campus.
Community Life Services is particularly invested in building meaningful relationship and purposeful engagement. Emma saw this first-hand this in delivering “National Hug Your Cat Day” treats to the cat owners amongst us, the Father’s Day recollections we collected and posted corporately, and a visit with a resident who will host our community Open House in August to share her handiwork.
Not only did Ardenwoods benefit from Emma’s added enthusiasm, energy, and creativity, but resident Kathy, had a special experience with our intern. Emma rode along on a transportation trip when Kathy needed banking assistance at the grocery store and unloading groceries! Of Emma, Kathy said, “I found her to be very charming, mature, and interested in learning. Emma was kind and sensitive.”
What Does Emma Have to Say?
Below is Emma’s take on her time interning at Ardenwoods:
“Serving at Ardenwoods as an intern was such a pleasure. I loved working alongside the people at Ardenwoods. The information and skills I learned through this experience will help me throughout my life. I am blessed to have had this experience. It helped me grow in my knowledge of senior living and my personal interests in event planning and community life services. The residents at Ardenwoods were all kind and encouraging to me while I was there.”