What I learned from my first internship
Student internships, like one I completed as part of the Mayor's Youth Employment Program, are great ways to explore possible careers and types of work environments
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My first office job helped me discern what kind of career I’d like to pursue after high school and college — and what kind of work environment best suits me
by Grace Paddock
When I applied for the Charlotte Mayor’s Youth Employment Program in 2023, I was hoping to earn money for my first car. But the experience gave me so much more.
When the application asked me what my intended field was, I wrote “pediatric occupational therapy.” MYEP paired me with FirstLight Home Care of Greater Charlotte, where I worked as an office assistant and scheduler.
I was nervous my first day, dressing up in what I hoped were professional clothes, making a bag lunch and heading off to the office. But the team was so friendly and welcoming. With their help, I learned how home health care works, about the impact home health aides can have on their clients, and how to schedule caregiver visits.
The very best part of the experience, though, happened outside the office. I was invited to join my work team at an open house and networking event at Back to Independence Rehab. At the event I made contacts who offered encouragement for my career path and told me about how broad occupational therapy can be — and how I can put those skills to use in other fields.
Sometimes an internship is also good for what you learn you don’t want to do — and for me, that’s sitting still in a cubicle all day. I appreciated that answering phones and arranging appointments is very important, but it confirmed for me that I’d like a job where I’m up and moving around, as pediatric OT will be.
And being part of an office culture for a summer showed me the importance of teamwork and camaraderie. At the end of the internship, my coworkers ordered lunch to celebrate my time with them. As we lunched together, my colleagues told me about their career journeys and offered advice, kindness and cake. It was a sweet ending to a great experience.
Grace Paddock is a senior at East Mecklenburg High School. She plans to study exercise science at Anderson University and pursue pediatric occupational therapy as a career.
Related Ledger article:
“It’s a hot summer for internships” (April 29)
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