During my internship, I have gained hands-on experience and invaluable insight into the holistic care of pediatric patients across various units within the hospital. I worked closely with pediatric patients and their families in pre-op to alleviate anxiety and fear associated with surgical procedures. I also utilized developmentally appropriate preparation techniques, therapeutic play, and coping strategies to help children understand and cope with upcoming medical interventions. I provided support to families with infants requiring specialized medical care in the NICU.

I first began working at Yard House as a host. Positioned in the front of the restaurant, I was the first impression guests had of the restaurant's friendliness, excellent service, and high standards. It was my role to greet guests upon arrival, inform guests of their wait time, monitor the waiting list, enter guests' names into the computer system, show guests to their tables, and bid guests farewell as they leave. After a few months, I was promoted as a To Go Specialist. In this role, I had to be a food expert who was dedicated to providing outstanding To Go Service. I was responsible for delivering friendly, accurate, sanitary, and timely To Go Service so that guests can enjoy our food in the comfort of their own homes.A few months later, I was again promoted to Food Runner. As a food runner, I played an important role in the daily operations of the restaurant ensuring the timely delivery of hot food to the guests while following proper food safety and sanitation standards.

As a practicum student, my role involved shadowing and assisting Certified Child Life Specialists and interns in tasks like distraction and accompaniment during procedures or dressing changes. I also observed the process of preparing patients for surgery and other medical procedures, such as dressing changes and nerve blocks. The child life specialists and interns showcased their expertise in planning and executing grief support interventions, including activities focused on legacy building and facilitating support groups. These interventions were aimed at aiding children in comprehending and expressing themselves better after the loss of a loved one. Additionally, I was an active participant in facilitating therapeutic, medical, and diversional play for patients aged twenty-one and below. My responsibilities encompassed various aspects within the playroom, including toy sanitation and organizational tasks. Weekly assignments were assigned to delve into specific diagnoses and considerations that child life specialists must be aware of when interacting with patients.

Working as an attendant at Mulligan Family Fun Center one of my main roles was to supervise various attractions and monitor guest safety. Some of these attractions included go-karts, laser tag, and teacups. Additionally, I became CPR certified and a lifeguard at the waterslides. I had to be attentive at all times and know when it was appropriate to stop operations if guests were not feeling well or wanted to get off. I also had to be patient and learn how to describe attraction rules to children of all ages in ways that they understand to ensure their safety. I also worked the food and beverage counter. I had to receive my Riverside County Food Handlers Card prior to working in this position as I had to prepare and serve food or beverages to guests. In this role, I interacted with all guests that entered the park as they bought tickets for the various attractions.

I had the opportunity to work in the afterschool program at the Dillon Child Study Center. The Dillon Child Study Center was a preschool located on the Brooklyn campus of St. Joseph's University. The afterschool program was run by the St. Joseph's University athletics department and was staffed by student-athletes. The main mission of the afterschool program was to teach preschool-aged children how to engage in sports and participate in a team environment. Every day we would focus on a specific sport such as basketball, soccer, or track. We would encourage participation by creating games and drills specific to the sport we were focusing on that day. In doing this I learned how to creatively explain things to preschool-aged children through various examples and visuals. It was also important that I was aware of my surroundings when working in the afterschool program because the outdoor space that we were able to use was in front of the preschool and anyone could walk by at any time.