Samantha Bensman

Where and when did you intern and what were your responsibilities?

I interned at PatchWorks House in Tiffin. My responsibilities were to supervise visitations and/or exchanges between children and parents. I was able to learn a lot about social work, documenting, how the court system operates and communicating with different families.

What was the best part about your internship?

Being able to interact with the families and making sure the children have the best experience at PatchWorks and with their parents was one of the best parts of the internship. I’m a Communication major but my career plan is to be a clinical counselor.

How did your internship connect to your major and/or your planned career?

This internship connects to my major AND planned career because I have to interact and talk to the parents and even the children in many low- and high-stress situations, so having communication skills and knowledge helped me within that area. On the other hand, this internship connects me to my planned career because I have learned to document and analyze different situations. Coming into the internship, I believe being a Communication major has helped me and as I continue this (I was offered a job after) I am learning how I can become a better communicator and advocate.

What advice would you give to current students considering an internship?

The advice I would give to students considering an internship is that you don't always have to do an internship within your major; the point of an internship is to learn what you like and what you don't like. Explore all of your interests and options, and always be willing to step out of your comfort zone!