Ksusha Billings was an Assistant Director of Volunteer Experience for the Orphanage Support Services Organization during Winter 2026.
Briefly explain what you did and the result of your internship.
I worked as assistant director of volunteer experience. I worked with a group of volunteers, providing leadership and Spanish interpretation in cultural adaptation as well as in shifts within the orphanages. It was also my responsibility to run the English program we did with the kids. I also helped initiate and integrate an English curriculum from our US organization into an Ecuadorian school. Through this experience I strengthened my own cultural understanding, Spanish proficiency as well as professional skills such as making effective plans, conducting key stakeholder interviews, overcoming cultural barriers and managing the project of English curriculum integration.
What did you learn on your internship that you were not expecting to learn?
I experienced the perfect "imperfection" that I learned is more normal than not. About a month into my internship, I began recognizing poor communication within the organization I was working for and noticing the challenges that it presented. While my initial thought was "what a terrible internship this is," I quickly overcame that and was humbled during my personal scripture study. I realized that most (if not all) organizations/workplaces have their challenges and none is perfect. That mindset helped me really learn the most I could have from a situation that was not necessarily ideal, but very real. I believe learning this and working to roll with it and help it has set me up for further success in my future.
How have your future plans changed because of what you learned from your internship experience?
I have confirmed one hundred-fold that Spanish is what I should be studying. It is my passion and I love it! Even when immersed entirely into it with all the nitty-gritty logistics of being professional, I still love it! I also was strongly impacted by the children in the orphanages where we worked and it has confirmed my deepest desire to one day be a mom. One thing that this internship has helped me to question is my desire to continue minoring in Global and Community Impact. I have been able to see a little bit more into the NGO world which was really insightful and I feel that my interests and personality are directing me a little towards business. That is one change I might see in my minor this upcoming semester. Still praying about
Please share how your experience led to personal inspiration or insightful revelation.
I can confidently say that without my personal faith and commitment to Heavenly Father, I would not have been able to grow nearly as much as I did. Throughout the entire semester I was praying for guidance and help in managing the situations I was put into. Inspiration always came!
Would you recommend this internship to other students?
I would!! I would definitely suggest it to people like me who are looking for an opportunity to serve and grow at the same time. My time with the children in Ecuador was absolutely life-changing, the relationships I built with my supervisor is also incredibly valuable to me. I attribute a lot of personal growth to this experience as well as a lot of professional growth.
Is there anything else you would like to say regarding your internship?
I'm so grateful for BYU for helping me do this internship. Without my SPAN399R class I would not have been able to grow the way that I did.
