Inside the Internship 2026: Real-World Experience, Hartwick Style

Hometown: Rome, New York
Major: Psychology
Minors: Social Work, Sociology
Internship Title: Department of Family and Community Services (DFCS) Intern
Internship Site: Oneida County DFCS in Utica, New York

What are your main responsibilities in this internship? I attend and shadow visits in court and visits in the community. I also file and organize binders of information and attend meetings to learn about the process of checking in with a child and those providing services.

Does this internship relate to your major? This internship relates to my minor in social work. I am very interested in helping and providing services to children who need them and ensuring they are safe and cared for.

What have you enjoyed most about this internship experience? I have enjoyed being able to see this process on the back end. A lot of people don’t realize the time and paperwork that goes into placing a child in foster care or returning a child to their home.

Has this internship helped confirm your career goals—or has it shifted your future plans in any way? This internship has helped me realize that I want to work more directly with the child and not so much on the back end of paperwork and with the parents involved.

Advice you’d give to a fellow student about securing/engaging in an internship? Ask questions and give input. The more you care and show who you are in your internship, the better the employer you’re working for can see your skills and maybe set you up for a future career after you graduate. Leaving a good impression on them will set you up for the future.

Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
Major: Nursing
Internship Title: Summer Nurse Intern
Internship Site: Oneonta Specialty Services (OSS), Bassett Healthcare Network in Oneonta, New York

What are your main responsibilities in this internship? I have gained experience in several outpatient clinics, including gastroenterology, physiatry, urology and plastic surgery. My responsibilities have included obtaining vital signs, assisting with patient ambulation, educating patients, performing phlebotomy, checking patients’ blood glucose levels and assisting as a procedure room technician during colonoscopies and EGDs. I have also had the opportunity to observe patient care and procedures, interact with patients and healthcare professionals and gain insight into the day-to-day responsibilities of nurses in an outpatient setting. These experiences have allowed me to apply the knowledge and skills I have developed in my nursing courses to a professional healthcare environment while continuing to build my clinical confidence.

Does this internship relate to your major? This internship is directly related to my nursing major and has allowed me to apply what I have learned in the classroom to real-world patient care. Through my coursework and clinical experiences, I have learned the fundamentals of nursing care and this internship has allowed me to continue developing those skills in a professional healthcare environment. It has also given me the opportunity to learn from nurses and other healthcare professionals while gaining a better understanding of how patient care is provided in different settings. Overall, this experience has helped me grow both personally and professionally as I continue working toward becoming a nurse.

What have you enjoyed most about this internship experience? The opportunity to gain exposure to areas of healthcare that I would not typically experience during my regular clinical rotations. I have been able to learn more about specialties such as plastic surgery, urology and physiatry, and I have also had the opportunity to shadow in the operating room and in dialysis. Being able to see these different areas has broadened my understanding of the many settings and specialties available within nursing. I have also enjoyed learning from the nurses and other healthcare professionals I have worked with and gaining a better understanding of the different ways they care for patients.

Has this internship helped confirm your career goals—or has it shifted your future plans in any way? This internship has strengthened my passion for nursing and reinforced that I chose the right career. Seeing the impact nurses have on their patients every day while working alongside experienced healthcare professionals has deepened my appreciation for the profession and helped me continue building my clinical skills. It has also shown me the wide variety of opportunities available within nursing. While my long-term goal is still to pursue a career in labor and delivery, this experience has encouraged me to remain open-minded and continue exploring different specialties as I grow professionally. I am excited to continue learning and discovering where I can make the greatest impact as a future registered nurse.

If applicable, is your supervisor a Hartwick alum, or do you work closely with one? Yes. My internship preceptor, Megan Orlowski ’18, is a Hartwick alum, and I have had the opportunity to work closely with her throughout my internship. It has been rewarding to learn from someone who once walked the same path at Hartwick and is now helping guide me as I prepare for my nursing career.

Advice you’d give to a fellow student about securing/engaging in an internship? Take initiative and make the most of every opportunity to learn. Ask questions, be willing to step outside your comfort zone and take the time to build relationships with the people you work with. I would also encourage students to start looking for internships early and to use the available resources and connections. An internship is not just about gaining experience; it is also an opportunity to learn more about yourself and the kind of work you may want to pursue in the future.

Hometown: New York, New York
Major: Public Health
Minor: Political Science
Internship Title: Testing Center Intern
Internship Site: Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) in New York, New York

What are your main responsibilities in this internship? Providing testing sessions and client navigation support. I conduct free HIV and STI testing sessions with clients from all over New York City, during which I provide sexual health education, connections to services such as PrEP access and testing services. On the client navigation side, I conduct follow-ups with clients who were referred to in-house or external resources, including access to Narcan, mental health support, immigration services and insurance enrollment.

Does this internship relate to your major? As a public health major, this internship has been closely related to my studies and allowed me to utilize previously learned concepts, such as motivational interviewing, in real-life situations.

What have you enjoyed most about this internship experience? I loved meeting dozens of new people every day who come from all over the world. We see clients from all walks of life and take pride in providing them with non-judgmental and compassionate care that supports their sexual and overall health.

Has this internship helped confirm your career goals—or has it shifted your future plans in any way? This experience has definitely solidified my love of working with others in client-focused positions. Most of the fun I have at work comes in the form of conversations I have with clients and being able to educate them on topics they might not have been familiar with. It is also very fulfilling to follow up with clients and ensure they had positive experiences with us and got the support they were looking for.

Advice you’d give to a fellow student about securing/engaging in an internship? Don’t be afraid of applying to internships that involve tasks you might not have experience with. Learning on the job from those around you is a fun and effective way to expand your skill set and apply new things you’ve learned.

Hometown: Stamford, Connecticut
Major: Environmental Studies and Sustainability
Minor: Biology
Internship Title: EcoPath Intern
Internship Site: Greenwich Land Trust in Greenwich, Connecticut

What are your main responsibilities in this internship? As conservation stewards, our main job is to help the Greenwich Land Trust manage and survey all of its properties, which span 1,014 acres of forest and over 80 preserves scattered across Connecticut. Through several projects, we collect data to support the organization in habitat restoration, trail management and invasive species removal.

Does this internship relate to your major, or is it an area you’re simply curious or passionate about? I have always been interested in conservation work and this internship provides me with important hands-on experience of what it’s like to be a conservationist and forestry manager in the field. As an environmental science major, I get to incorporate much of what I learn in my classes in a professional setting.

What have you enjoyed most about this internship experience? I learned how to identify both native and invasive plants in Connecticut and helped with many conservation projects, such as hemlock monitoring, beech stand assessments and invasive species surveys. One of my favorite things I learned how to do was plant transplanting and propagation, as well as using ArcGIS Pro to analyze all the data we collect.

Has this internship helped confirm your career goals—or has it shifted your future plans in any way? This internship helped me realize that there are so many sides of conservation and that I don’t have to limit myself to one option. I have found my passion in the work I have accomplished during this internship and hope that I can continue this work after college.

Advice you’d give to a fellow student about securing/engaging in an internship? If you’re ever looking for an internship, start with ones you might be interested in to discover the future pathways you want to go down. Never forget to apply to as many as you can because there’s always the chance you’ll get that one ‘yes’ that changes your entire career.

Hometown: Schenevus, New York
Major: Art Business
Minors: French
Internship Title: Collections Management Intern
Internship Site: Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, New York

What are your main responsibilities in this internship? Inventory and catalog objects in the Fenimore Art Museum’s collection, which involved writing object descriptions, taking measurements, writing condition reports, taking object photos, conducting research on the objects and assessing their storage conditions/locations (and fixing them if the objects were not stored properly). I worked on the “Small Things” collection, which consisted of a miscellaneous group of objects, such as commemorative military/war memorabilia (pins, badges, ribbons), nutcrackers, carved wooden salt bowls, silverware, and commemorative medals/coins/medallions. When I overlapped with another Hartwick intern, Noelle Mulik ‘27, I worked with her to photograph and inventory the ceramics collection, which she focused on during her internship.  

Does this internship relate to your major? This internship does relate to my major. I developed the art business major option through the Individual Student Program (ISP) offered at Hartwick. Essentially, it combines museum studies, art history and business administration into one major, rather than three minors. I want to work in a cultural arts institution, like a museum or auction house, after I finish my education. I’m actually working on graduate school applications now so I can continue my studies after Hartwick! 

What have you enjoyed most about this internship experience? One of the reasons I am interested in working in museum collections is because I love art and material culture. It’s so interesting to see what people decide to produce for pleasure, like the ribbons, pins, badges and medallions. These kinds of objects aren’t necessary for survival, but they show us what past populations wanted to remember, such as serving in the military, winning a livestock competition, reaching the 100th anniversary of a company or campaigning for women’s suffrage. Even though my experience in this area is limited, I loved conducting research on the objects I was cataloging. Most of the research I conducted was very surface-level — mostly to build a more detailed description of the object — but nonetheless, it was my favorite part of my internship. 

Has this internship helped confirm your career goals—or has it shifted your plans in any way? Yes! As I mentioned earlier, this internship helped confirm my desire to work in a cultural arts institution. I am particularly interested in pursuing a career in collections management, such as a museum registrar, who oversees and cares for a museum’s collections, as well as facilitating accessions, loans and deaccessions to the collection.  

Advice you’d give to a fellow student about securing/engaging in an internship? Find an internship in something you actually are passionate about and build meaningful connections with the people you work with. I chose to do an unpaid internship at Fenimore rather than a paid internship/summer job elsewhere because I wanted to gain relevant job experience and network with people who could help me in my future. Also, reach out to the Career Development office at Hartwick! Even though my internship was unpaid, the Career Development office was able to offer me funding to help cover any expenses I encountered during my internship.  

Hometown: Colonie, New York
Major: English
Internship Title: CSEA Organizing Intern
Internship Site: CSEA, Latham, New York location

What are your main responsibilities in this internship? Research potential and active union organizing campaigns. I go into the field, visiting job sites and speaking with workers to gather evidence and understand workplace conditions and issues. I assist statewide organizers in unionizing private and public sector workers.

Does this internship relate to your major? This internship involves analyzing articles and analytical writing. I am able to incorporate my critical thinking and reading comprehension skills I have gained as an English major.

What have you enjoyed most about this internship experience? Doing research and helping form strategic unionizing campaigns, while also being able to go in the field and have hands-on experiences. I have also learned a lot about the labor movement and unions and how critical it is to educate younger generations on the importance of unions.

Has this internship helped confirm your career goals—or has it shifted your plans in any way? I have always had an interest in the political and law field and this internship gave me an

introduction to what it is really like. It has also opened my eyes to the range of occupations in policy and law, and how many more opportunities there are to incorporate my political science and English interests.

Advice you’d give to a fellow student about securing/engaging in an internship? I would say it is a necessity for every student to experience an internship before graduation. Studying at Hartwick is the first step; you gain skills and information on a particular area of study, but an internship is the application of all that you have gained from Hartwick. Doing hands-on work gives you a true idea of whether your career path is exactly what you are looking for.

Hometown: Brunswick, New York
Majors: Psychology and Creative Writing
Minor: Biology
Internship Title: Next Gen Immersion Student
Internship Site: Albany Medical College in the Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics in Albany, New York

What are your main responsibilities in this internship? I worked in Dr. Shannon Stephens’ lab, which focuses on kisspeptin and fertility. My responsibilities included shadowing lab technicians and graduate students, as well as learning new skills such as running polymerase chain reaction (PCRs), counting cells and mounting brains. This work concluded with a final presentation on kisspeptin in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) of female mouse brains at different ages. Throughout the program, I also attended lectures on various neuroscience topics. 

Does this internship relate to your major? The main reason I did this internship was to see what it was like in a neuroscience lab. As I look to the future beyond Hartwick. I wanted to get into some of the spaces that could be potential jobs for me and see what graduate school in a psychology/biology type of field would look like.

What have you enjoyed most about this internship experience? I really loved the lab atmosphere and the people I met. They made every day in the lab interesting and fun.

Has this internship helped confirm your career goals—or has it shifted your future plans in any way? It definitely shifted my goals a little. I have been thinking that my future would be working and having my own lab. I still want to do this, but it also made me realize that I would like to do this at an institution where I could also teach.

Advice you’d give to a fellow student about securing/engaging in an internship? Just be passionate about it. I went out and found this internship myself and brought it to the Hartwick community, which then helped me pursue it to the greatest extent I could. If you are ready to learn and engage, you will find something.

Hometown: Albany, New York
Major: Public Health
Concentration: Social and Community Health
Internship Title: Summer Youth Counselor
Internship Site: Camp Scully in Wynantskill, New York 

What are your main responsibilities in this internship? Helping with morning and evening routines, and following a schedule provided by my lead staff supervisors. Throughout the day, we participate in activities such as slingshot, archery, target games and sports. We also promote healthy habits by encouraging campers to wash their hands, drink water after activities, put on sunscreen and maintain proper hygiene. Another responsibility I have is tracking the meals provided to campers using our meal-tracking sheets. I also occasionally assist other cabins with different activities and tasks. Overall, I do a little bit of everything! 

Does this internship relate to your major? This internship relates to my major in public health because I have the opportunity to work with children from many different backgrounds, which is something I am very passionate about! I have always enjoyed working with kids, and this experience has allowed me to combine that passion with my interest in public health and promoting healthy habits and overall well-being.

What have you enjoyed most about this internship experience? Meeting all of the new campers who come to camp, as well as reconnecting with returning campers from previous years. I really enjoy building meaningful relationships with the campers and getting to know

my coworkers as well.

Has this internship helped confirm your career goals—or has it shifted your future plans in any way? It has helped me confirm my career goals and realize that I want to work with kids in any setting. Some possibilities include child/youth services specialist, family services coordinator or health educator. 

Advice you’d give to a fellow student about securing/engaging in an internship? Make sure you try everything! You have to sometimes step outside your comfort zone to get things done.