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A "Good Fit" Internship

Published: April 13, 2021

Few folks like to be known as a statistic, but Tasha Bryant 15 wont mind being part of this one: the number of students whose internships end with the invitation, We want you to work for us.

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When Tasha, a social work major, left her internship with the Rutledge Youth Foundation (RYF) this summer to resume her final year of studies at Greenville College, she did so with a job offer in hand. After graduation in May 2015, she will work as a case aid for RYF.

Her story will eventually make its way into statistics like those compiled by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), a group that tracks conversion of college internships into job offers.

In this years report, for example, nearly 65 percent of employers surveyed said they offered full-time jobs to students who interned with them last year.

MORE THAN A JOB OFFER

Tashas internship provided more than entry into a paid position in her field; it revealed her passion for wanting to keep siblings together through foster care and adoption, a goal shared by RYF, which serves approximately 300abused and neglected children and youth between birth and age 21.

The self-revelation contributed to a transformative experience for Tasha, who worked primarily with RYFs foster care program. Her days included accompanying caseworkers on home visits and in court. Looking back, my internship made me feel like this field is right where I am supposed to be. I loved it.

The win-win outcome Tasha and RYF achieved together demonstrates the importance of pursuing a good-fit internship. Tashas values and sense of purpose clearly aligned with RYFs.

What I liked most about working with caseworkers at RYF is the fact they knew who their clients were, she said. The clients were not just a number or another piece of paperwork that the caseworkers had to process as part of their jobs.

Tasha realized two additional treasures from her internship: one, inspiration to pursue a masters degree in social work, and two, increased awareness of the benefits to saying yes to new experiences, relationships and conversations.

If statistics could accurately capture the benefits of a transformative experience, Tasha would gladly be part of that number, too.

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