College Internship in Public School First Grade

This semester I had the opportunity to work with a first grade class at a public school in Buffalo. I chose to participate in the internship because I am interested in becoming a clinical psychologist for children and wanted to gain some additional experience working with them. It also gave me a better appreciation for what life is like for the children in the city. Growing up, I went to a private catholic school in a small town in New York. The students at the public school have to deal with things outside of school that I never even imagined at their age. This kind of internship is a great opportunity for college students who are trying to find out if working with children is right for them and expand their view of the world at the same time.

Luckily, I was placed in a classroom with a great teacher and a great group of kids. I was excited to go to the school each time because it was a lot of fun and a nice break from my regular schedule. I was thankful for that every time I was there because 150 hours is a lot to fit into 14 weeks!

My first morning at the school did not go very smoothly. I had an appointment with the activities director but she had gone out to do the banking and was an hour late. When she finally arrived, she told me that she had trouble finding a teacher who wanted me. I was surprised because I assumed that the teachers would appreciate some extra help. She brought me up to my classroom and the teacher there seemed excited to have me there. I spent the first day observing the classroom routines and trying to learn the names of the 21 students in the class.