Brianna defining career goals

I came into this trip, really looking forward to the internship component that was offered.  I knew that this whole experience would help give me some insight into what career I wanted to go into. Since my time at City Mission, I can say that although at times it might be a challenge to successfully teach, I still find that I look forward to going back. I feel like I am part of the teacher network and that what I say and do actually does matter. I have found now that I actually have more confidence in my abilities and all that I have to offer and this has only strengthened by being at City Mission.

Some of the learners from City Mission Educational Services

It’s important that if we are uncertain of a career or job that we are interested in, we must experience that career before we take it on. I have to say, that every internship I have ever took, even if I realized that I do not want to go into that career, I also was able to narrow down the careers that I know I wouldn’t enjoy. For example, when I was at the Yale University Social Cognitive Development Lab, I realized that as much as I have an interest for psychology, a lab/behind the scenes type of environment was one that I didn’t enjoy. I learned from this, that I wanted to interact with people and this was something that I needed to make sure was existent in whatever career I chose.

...more of the learners from CMES

To go back to my Internship at City Mission, I have learned so much about myself. I know now that as much as I enjoy teaching, it is not what I want to go into. However, I do want to work within a high school environment. I just realized how much I love to interact with the students and learn about them and their lives. I also realize that with teaching, this connection that I want with students is not priority. What’s priority with a teaching career is to literally teach the students any information on a particular subject or more. I want a career that’s priority is to be able to interact with another being and help them through guidance and mentoring. Most of all, I want to be there for people because sometimes that’s all that’s needed.