Sara was an intern for The Intermountain Health Child Life Practicum during Fall 2024.
Briefly explain what you did and the result of your internship.
The Intermountain Health Child Life Practicum Pre-Internship experience is an observational experience with the aim to help students become more familiar with the discipline of child life. I was provided opportunities to learn about children's reactions to hospitalization and chances to integrate theory into clinical practice. I also had opportunities to plan activities, develop professional communication skills, and hone my observation skills. I shadowed Certified Child Life Specialists to gain a better understanding of their role and responsibilities. Through my practicum I am better prepared to apply to the Child Life Internship, aiding me in my career goals of becoming a child life specialist.
What did you learn in your internship that you were not expecting to learn?
I learned how to better interview, prepare, and market myself for internship and job applications! My supervisors were so awesome at explicitly pointing out connections between what we were doing and how I could use that experience to promote myself in the future. They were great at giving me tips on the language to use as well, so that I explained everything I wanted to in a concise, clear way.
How have your future plans changed because of what you learned from your internship experience?
No. My practicum solidified my plans to continue down the path of certification to become a child life specialist.
Please share how your experience led to personal inspiration or insightful revelation.
Completing my Intermountain Health Child Life Practicum Pre-Internship Experience has solidified the desire that I have to become a child life specialist. Although I have faced many roadblocks on this journey, and often considered giving up and switching career paths entirely, completing this practicum has not only given me invaluable skills to continue down this path, but has reinvigorated my desire and love for this profession. Getting to see the way that child life specialists aid in the hospital experience and provide comfort and relief to so many families was inspiring and I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to have this experience.
Would you recommend this internship to other students?
Absolutely! I gained so much knowledge and experience throughout my practicum and feel significantly more prepared to apply for internships in the future. Additionally, it was a great networking opportunity and I have so many contacts to use as resources in my future application processes.
Is there anything else you would like to say regarding your internship?
My practicum was genuinely one of the best experiences I've ever had and I'm so grateful for the knowledge I gained because of it!
