Hayleigh was a Volunteer for Aspen Senior Day Center during Winter 2026.
Briefly explain what you did and the result of your internship.
As an intern at Aspen Senior Day Center, my primary responsibility was to love the clients. Because most of the clients are dementia patients, I learned how to interact with them, respond with patience, practice professionalism, and help them feel loved, seen, and appreciated. I regularly assisted with playing games like bowling, cornhole, and relay races, spent time talking with and getting to know each client on a one-on-one basis, and helping with whatever other tasks the full-time staff indicated would be helpful. Participating in this experience helped me see what service in a healthcare field looks like in action and helped me develop valuable skills and qualities that will prepare me for my future career as an occupational therapist.
What did you learn on your internship that you were not expecting to learn?
I was not expecting to learn about the significance of the positive, tiny, and seemingly unimportant interactions that we have with others. On multiple occasions, I would express my appreciation for one of the clients and not think much of it, but later would either see or hear how much that had meant to them. I wasn't expecting to learn how much of an impact our words and actions can have, but I am so grateful that I was able to consecrate my seemingly insignificant contributions and see the effects they had on the people that I have come to love so dearly. I know that understanding the significance of every interaction will help me not only in my future career, but also in my personal life.
How have your future plans changed because of what you learned from your internship experience?
I always thought I wanted to work with young children in a pediatric position, but working with seniors opened my eyes to a whole new world of possibility. I loved learning from the wisdom of the sweet clients and now I recognize how vulnerable the geriatric population is. It must be so frustrating to go from being once so independent to then return to being so dependent on others again. My internship experience has encouraged me to explore working with a geriatric population, which is something I had never considered before.
Please share how your experience led to personal inspiration or insightful revelation.
I think that my decision to choose to volunteer at Aspen was absolutely orchestrated by heaven. Not only did it help me recognize that the Lord maybe wants me to work with the geriatric population, but it also helped confirm that I want to be serving people one-on-one in a healthcare setting.
Would you recommend this internship to other students?
I would absolutely recommend this internship to other students! I learned so many valuable skills that will prepare me for a healthcare profession, but I also think that this experience helped me develop Christlike attributes like patience, charity, empathy, compassion, and humility. Volunteering at Aspen has forever changed my life, and I think it ultimately comes down to the relationships I have formed with the people that I serve, and because of that, I cannot recommend this internship highly enough!
Is there anything else you would like to say regarding your internship?
My internship quickly became the highlight of my week. I remember feeling so nervous before my first day, but the nerves quickly transformed into eager anticipation when I realized how fulfilling it is to throw myself into the service of others. I would not change this experience for the world.
