The Class of 2004 interns share their experiences

Erica Deming:

Where is your internship? Rochester City School District – School #5 (3 days per week) and Marshall H.S. (2 days per week).

What do you spend the majority of your time doing at your school? The least? At the elementary level, I have the opportunity to do a variety of activities – assessment (of course), individual counseling, group counseling, grief counseling, social skills push-in groups, a lot of consultation with teachers and parents, FBA’s and BIP’s, etc. I will start to go to Marshall next week (November) and I anticipate that I will be doing a lot more assessment there- mostly triennials.

Is this close to what you would like to be doing in the field? I hope so! Actually, I think that, depending on where I work, I will be doing more assessments than I have been this year. Otherwise, I think that my internship experience so far is a relatively accurate reflection of what it will be like next year and beyond. One major difference is that, as an intern, we aren’t under the same time crunch- I can really focus on what I’m doing and take my time.

How is the transition from practicum to internship? (ex. Is the relationship between student and supervisor much different? How? The transition from practicum to internship was pretty easy. I was very excited to start my internship, which might have made it easier. My internship experience has been so much more valuable than practicum. The main difference is that you really have the opportunity to become a member of the school. Teachers and students get to see you more and get to know you as permanent school staff. As far as supervisors are concerned, I see my supervisor every day and have constant contact with him (we share an office), so I guess I would say that I have a pretty close working relationship with him. Other than that, its pretty similar to that of a practicum supervisor.

Do you feel you were prepared for internship? Yes.

Do you have any wisdom that you would like to impart to our current practicum students? Focus more on test selection…when you get to the internship level, you are expected to choose certain assessments that you think are the best measurements of what you are looking to measure. This was an area that I had a hard time with. I would also recommend that you make the most of your internship experience…this is the time to develop all of your skills so that you’re ready to go the following year!

What’s the best thing about being an intern? The worst? The best thing is that I can focus almost all of my attention on my internship. The schedule is great too! The worst is that I don’t have my own computer, office, tests, etc. – I live out of my school bag!

Emily Hesek:

Where is your internship? Gates-Chili School District

What do you spend the majority of your time doing at your school? The least? So far, I’ve spent the majority of my time testing and writing reports, and going to meetings. I was surprised by the numer of meetings to attend. Unfortunately, I haven’t gotten much opportunity to do counseling, although I am working on putting together a grief group in the near future.

Is this close to what you would like to be doing in the field? Pretty close. I would like to be able to do more counseling, though. I have found that some psychologists in this district aren’t viewed in that role, as a counselor. You really have to work at being more than the person who does psych evaluations.

How is the transition from practicum to internship? (ex. Is the relationship between student and supervisor much different? How? Yes, it is definitely different. For the most part, my supervisors (I work in 3 different buildings) are people that I ask questions when something comes up. As an intern, you work pretty independently after the first few weeks, so you don’t spend so much time with your supervisor. I am, however, still an intern, so sometimes I have to do what my supervisor tells me to do, even if it’s not how I would do it. It can get frustrating when people aren’t willing to do things a different way.

Do you feel you were prepared for internship? Yes. I felt like I didn’t know much in the beginning, but then you get going and realize you know more than you thought!

Do you have any wisdom that you would like to impart to our current practicum students? I know you’ve heard it before and when you’re going through it it won’t matter, but if you can, try not to worry about getting an internship. You will get one. It can get hard interviewing and then not getting the job, but in the end you will get the one that is right for you.

What’s the best thing about being an intern? The worst? The best thing about being an intern is that you go to work and then you come home with no papers to write, etc.! I have had to write a few reports from home, but for the most part, at the end of the day you are done. Another good thing about being the intern, is that the staff usually don’t expect you to know much because you’re just ‘learning,’ but then they think you’re really great when they see that you actually know something! The worst thing I have had to deal with are the politics between one school and another and one psychologist and another. People don’t always get along or agree and there can be a lot of gossip that is easy to get caught up in. As an intern in different buildings, people try to get you on ‘their side’ and it’s hard to stay neutral because you have an opinion just like they do. So far, all I can say is just nod, smile, and be sympathetic.

Denise Hershey:

Where is your internship? East Irondeqoit School District, Rochester, NY.

What do you spend the majority of your time doing at your school? The least? Administering full battery assessments for triennial and initial evaluations. I also run a group with special ed. Students in a life-skills class at the Middle School level and consult with their teacher once a week. I see a couple students individually as well.

Is this close to what you would like to be doing in the field? Ideally, I would like more of a balance between assessment and clinical work. However, by employing creativity, organization, and some schedule juggling, even in a more assessment driven placement this could probably be managed.

How is the transition from practicum to internship? (ex. Is the relationship between student and supervisor much different? How? Rather sudden, though this was anticipated! I am incredibly independent compared to my practicum experiences. I have a running list of things I need to accomplish and once those responsibilities are given to me it is up to me to see that they are done. There have been days when my supervisors are at CSE for the entire day or out sick and I am completely on my own, so I need to be resourceful. Also, though I meet with my supervisors regularly, conversations are more focused on my assignments and where I'm at with different tasks. These discussions contribute to my professional development in a less direct manner compared to last year when we sat down and would talk about what I was doing and how I felt about the experiences.

Do you feel you were prepared for internship? Yes. At first it felt overwhelming, but I realized that I have all the skills needed to do this. Some of my skills need to be honed more than others, but I was well trained. Saying that, I do think that what I will learn this year will be invaluable and increase my learning in ways than classroom environments could never touch. The accountability level is so much more intense, as this is the  ‘real world.’

Do you have any wisdom that you would like to impart to our current practicum students? I’m hardly feeling successful enough to impart wisdom! Just keep in mind that all of this is about learning. Learning about ourselves and how we interact with others, paying attention to what we see others do that we like and what we would do differently. You see it all in the schools… the burnout, the hopelessness, the negativity, the time constraints…but there’s also energy, creativity, compassion, and teamwork. Paying attention to how people handle challenges, whether or not their strategies work, and how their attitudes affect the people around them can be incredibly educational in itself. 

What’s the best thing about being an intern? The worst? The best thing about being an intern is applying the skills and knowledge we’ve acquired on a full-time basis. Getting paid to do so is a nice change. Also, knowing that this is the final step before graduating is very motivating! For me, the worst thing about being an intern is feeling misplaced some of the time….being in different buildings, not always having the greatest spaces to work, having limited opportunities to get to know the people I see at work…sometimes I feel like I’m in the way. Wherever I am next fall, I’ll appreciate having a space to call my own.

Angela Mullaly:

Where is your internship? Charlotte High School- Rochester City School District

What do you spend the majority of your time doing at your school? The least?  I do a lot of testing, report writing, and consulting. Least? I guess counseling.

Is this close to what you would like to be doing in the field? I do like figuring out how to help a student succeed in school with our evaluations, but I would like to do more counseling.

How is the transition from practicum to internship? (ex. Is the relationship between student and supervisor much different? How? The relationship between supervisor and student is a lot different. You are an employee of the district now and have your own work load that you’re responsible for.

Do you feel you were prepared for internship? I feel that I was very prepared going into internship. We have a very good program.

Do you have any wisdom that you would like to impart to our current practicum students?  You will be ready when your time comes….no matter what you think right now.

What’s the best thing about being an intern? The worst? As an intern, I get the cases and workload that I am responsible for. So, I also get to decide how I work best and how to get things done according to what works best for me.

Hillary Kretz-Harvey:

Where is your internship? Chatauqua Lake Central School District in Mayville, NY.

What do you spend the majority of your time doing at your school? The least? I spend most of my time testing, consulting, and counseling. I haven’t been able to go on any home visits yet.

Is this close to what you would like to be doing in the field? My internship is very close to what it would be like in the field. I am getting a broad range of experiences. I am, however, able to have a say in what I want to have more time to gain more experience with. I have a lot of opportunity to act independently and am lucky enough to be able to let my supervisor know what I would like more experience with and what I would prefer less of.

How is the transition from practicum to internship? (ex. Is the relationship between student and supervisor much different? How? My internship transition wasn’t very difficult. In my last practica experience I had the opportunity to do a lot of testing and felt more independent, so I guess the only difference is that I have more time to engage in more activities at my internship. I guess I also feel like part of the school team more now.

Do you feel you were prepared for internship? I feel that I was very prepared for internship. I haven’t had anything come my way yet that I couldn’t handle. The best advice received during our training was not to be afraid to consult with others on things that I’m not entirely sure about.

Do you have any wisdom that you would like to impart to our current practicum students?  Learn as much as you can about curriculum based assessment. If you know how to use it correctly, and can implement it in a school district, it will save you a lot of testing time.

What’s the best thing about being an intern? The worst? The best thing about being an intern is not having to go home and do coursework or study for exams anymore. The worst is having to get up so darn early in the morning to make it to work by 7:30.

Debra Marshall:

Where is your internship? Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES

What do you spend the majority of your time doing at your school? The least? Most: Counseling. Least: Assessment

Is this close to what you would like to be doing in the field? Yes.

How is the transition from practicum to internship? (ex. Is the relationship between student and supervisor much different? How? The relationship is different because I am MUCH more independent. But, I was definitely ready to be on my own.

Do you feel you were prepared for internship? Yes, especially with report writing. I was complimented on my writing, and I know it’s because we worked so much on it over the course of the program.

Do you have any wisdom that you would like to impart to our current practicum students?  Run as many groups as you can during pracitucm. It’s virtually impossible to practice group counseling without actually doing it, and it is a very worthwhile skill to have in any placement.

What’s the best thing about being an intern? The worst? The best thing is being independent. The worst is that most people in small districts or BOCES have worked together for a long time, so you really feel out of place, or like the “new girl” a lot.

Kelly Zanni:

Where is your internship? Palmyra-Macedon Central schools. (I’m full time in the high school but I will be starting some projects at Palmyra Elementary soon).

What do you spend the majority of your time doing at your school? The least? I have a pretty varied placement doing a lot of counseling and assessment. I have a large individual counseling caseload, and I’m going to be co-facilitating a group starting this week with another counselor. I’ve also been doing lots of assessment with three-year re-evals. and a few new referrals. So far, I’ve spent the least amount of time doing consultation (It’s been very informal—time permitting), but I have plans to start some formal consultation with some of my special ed. Teachers very soon.

Is this close to what you would like to be doing in the field? Yes. I’ve been surprised at how much I like High School.

How is the transition from practicum to internship? (ex. Is the relationship between student and supervisor much different? How? The biggest difference is my level of independence. My supervisors are in different buildings than I am, so I was surprised at how much they trust me to work very independently. They expect that I have been well trained and am prepared to make decisions and function with minimal supervision. They really treat you like another professional who is (almost) an equal. It was both a very overwhelming and exciting transition.

Do you feel you were prepared for internship? I felt overwhelmed in the beginning, but the more I work with other professionals, the more confident I feel. We really do know a lot! And, in my opinion, we are very well prepared compared to those in other training programs.

Do you have any wisdom that you would like to impart to our current practicum students?  Well, ask more questions while you can, and try to get as much out of your practicum placements as you can.

What’s the best thing about being an intern? The worst? The best: Finally being able to work with kids every day instead of just reading and writing about them all the time. And GETTING PAID, I love that! The worst: Getting up really early every day to get to work at 7:30. Enjoy 10:00 classes and sleep while you can!

Sheila Connor:

Where is your internship? Alexandria City Public Schools in Alexandria, VA.

What do you spend the majority of your time doing at your school? The least? I really have a good breakdown of all our major responsibilities. Since I am the only school psychologist in my building I do all of the assessments and attend all of the meetings. I also hold 5 groups per week for 2^nd and 3^rd grade students. I meet with 3 students for individual counseling once or twice per week. I also meet teachers two or three days after school for consultation, as well as during teacher work-periods. I tutor a 1^st grade student in reading three days a week and teach two after-school science classes to encourage young students to be interested in science (which is often ignored in out statewide tests). I usually meet with two or three parents per week to discuss their concerns.

Is this close to what you would like to be doing in the field? I’m sure that the longer I am in the field I will become more interested in specific areas of the job. Right now, I am happy to have so many diverse experiences in the internship setting.

How is the transition from practicum to internship? (ex. Is the relationship between student and supervisor much different? How? As an intern, I feel very independent, which reflects my personality and the set-up that I am in. My supervisor expects that I will let him know when I need advice and/or feel overwhelmed, and I will call him with ethical and procedural questions. I see him twice per week to discuss cases and assessment results.

Do you feel you were prepared for internship? You are SO prepared for your internship.

Do you have any wisdom that you would like to impart to our current practicum students?  Don’t stress about what you can’t control. Every site will be different, so get as much information as you can before accepting the internship, and then just trust that it will be okay. Think about your own expectations before meeting with your supervisor so that you feel confident expressing what areas you want independence in and what areas you will need some TLC. Also, don’t wear jeans to school unless you work in an ED setting. It is hard enough to be respected as an intern without looking unprofessional, and you never know when a parent will come looking for you.

What’s the best thing about being an intern? The worst? The best thing is not taking full responsibility for decisions (before I call CPS or do a suicidal screening, I always check in with my supervisor for advice). The worst thing is introducing yourself as an intern, because nobody understands what your role is and what you do and don’t know. I’m sure that if my child were in school, I would rather have them work with the school psychologist than the school psych. Intern. I definitely feel like I have to prove myself with every consultation and report.

Tiffany Folmer:

Where is your internship? Pittsford Central School District

What do you spend the majority of your time doing at your school? The least? Assessment--most Consultation---2nd most Counseling---least

Is this close to what you would like to be doing in the field? Pretty close to what I expect I will be doing. I really like the focus on consultation.

How is the transition from practicum to internship? (ex. Is the relationship between student and supervisor much different? How?) I think the transition is an easy one for us...We were all so excited to be doing this every day, that it has been exciting! The relationship is different in that you don't always feel like a pain, and you do feel free to make some decisions on your own---so it's more of a peer relationship. Of course, my supervisors know way more than I do, so I'm always asking questions and looking for supervision! so in that way it hasn't changed.

Do you feel you were prepared for internship? Most of the time, yes. I did go through a little ‘holy cow I don't know what I’m doing’ stage, but really, we were well prepared.

Do you have any wisdom you would like to impart to our current practicum students? Wisdom! Ha. Um. Ask lots of questions, never be afraid to advocate for you doing more in the schools, or to ask to be included on things you would really like to see in action. That's where you learn the most, probably.

What's the best thing about being an intern? The worst? Best: Not being in classes any more, AND, feeling like I can make a real difference in a kid's life by being here every day, not just one day a week! Getting to do the job finally! Worst: Still feeling sort of restricted by supervisors---people wanting to put their writing style/personal style/ etc. on to you. Only one more year of that though.