Introduction

I am a Sophomore in the Human Services Technology Program at Gaston College. I am also a student intern at Hope United Survivor Network. I have been enrolled at Gaston College since the fall of 2020. Thinking back to my time before Gaston College as a junior in high school, I remember panicking because it was time to start taking college more seriously. My issue was that I knew I wanted to go to college, but I didn’t have a “talent”, chorus, band, sports, technology nor health care were my way out. It wasn’t until I realized that my heart is my way out that I wasn’t comparing myself to others who seemed to have it all planned out. As cliche as it may sound, helping others is my passion. I was always the dedicated helper in all aspects of my life whether that be home, school, or work. I am a helper not due to feeling obligated, but because it is within my character.

When telling people that I wanted to go into the human service field the reactions were either “You want to take people’s kids?” or “Why would you want to do something like that? They don’t even make a lot of money”, there was rarely anything in between. For a while, even while I was putting in overtime doing the work to make it to the finish line, I begin to let the words get to me and doubt crept in. During my Work-Based Learning experience that the doubt went away. When getting that hands-on experience working in the field, I knew that I was in the right place. Critical thinking, advocacy, cultural competence, communication, and active listening as well as patience were all something that came to me naturally. My spark isn’t playing an instrument nor a sport. My spark is simply wanting everyone to have a little more peace and joy during their limited time here on earth. I chose the Human Service Field because it is one of the few career fields where I can showcase my spark in the best way I know how, helping.

Title Page
Introduction
Table of Contents
Work Experience
Volunteer Work
Academic Sample
Accomplishments
Resume
Letters of Recommendation

Work Experience

I am currently an intern at Hope United Survivor Network which is a Gaston County based community collaborative. Government funded, Hope United caters to survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assault, elder abuse, and childhood sexual trauma. The goal of the organization is to prioritize the safety of the survivors and ensure a secure place to receive the help they need. I begin my work with Hope United in August of 2022 and able to gain a lot of experience. Hope United is divided into multiple locations such as the Cathy Mabry Cloninger Shelter, the outreach office, client advocacy courtroom and the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC). During my time with the organization, I was fortunate to be able to work in all locations.

During my time with Hope United I was able to help with many community fundraisers. One of the biggest fundraisers that the organization presented was Threads of Hope. Hope United hosted New York Times Best Selling Author Stephanie Land who wrote the book Maid: Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive, the inspiration behind the Netflix series. Through selling tickets to the event as well as multiple different raffles Hope United raised funds to support survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assault, elder abuse, and child abuse directly in Gaston County.

Volunteer Work

Over the years I have volunteered throughout the Gaston County community. In the last year more than any, I have dedicated a lot of time giving back while volunteering for clothing, food, and toiletry drives. During my previous Work-Based Learning experience I had the opportunity to volunteer monthly at Hope Vibes community bath tank. This was a new and unique experience that helped broaden my horizons as well as help me get more serious about my volunteer work.

One of my most recent volunteering experiences was an event sponsored by the church Convoy of Hope. This event took place in Gastonia at one of the recreational centers. Those in the community were given the opportunity to come out an receive great services such as groceries, health care, clothes, job, career, and community services. As a volunteer at Convoy for Hope I helped navigate traffic as well as passed out supplies.

Academic Sample

During the spring semester of 2022 I was enrolled in Work-Based Learning Seminar 115. At the end of the class, I was required to make a market board for my Work-Based Learning site. The idea of the assignment was to create a marketing PowerPoint based on the organization I was interning with. At the time I was working with an organization known as The Hope Youth Network which caters to those facing homelessness. I worked with Hope Youth Network from January until April as learned a lot during my time there. The experience that I gained is shown within the work I put into my market board.

WBL115- Market Board

Upon taking the Developmental Disabilities 110 course, I was required to complete a term project that was based around selecting an Intellectual or Developmental Disability and creating an activity to help that specific group. After creating the task, the assignment then required a history of the disability, barriers they face as well as how society can help support them. When completing my term project, I chose to do my paper on those with Autism and designed a support group that those with Autism would benefit from.

DDT110- Term Project

Group Process I and II were the only in-person classes that I had at my time at Gaston College. The class was very hand-on and required one to be physically present to participate. The term project for both courses was connected as I carried over from one class to the next. In Group Process I, the term project required the individual to create a support group idea for any population. While the instructions were broad, this support group would them have to turn around and be acted out in Group Process II as the follow up term project. I chose to base my support group around at-risk children and adolescence and give them a safe place to navigate through puberty, emotions, school, and home life.

HSE112- Term Project

Accomplishments

During my time in the Human Service Technology Program at Gaston College I have gained a wide range of skills and knowledge to take with me throughout my Human Services career. As a student I have learned how to prioritize my time as well as stay disciplined and focused to get my responsibilities met. With the newly gained work-based learning experience, I have learned an array of skills such as advocacy, organization, documentation, as well as networking. Many of these skilled cannot be taught but must be learned as you go, constantly leaving room for growth.

Resume

Gaston College Unofficial Transcript 2022

2022 Resume

Letters of Recommendation

Letter of Recommendation: Hannah Hopper (HUSN)

Letter of Recommendation: Dana Rudisill (Gaston College)