Carissa Grady

Responsibilities

My responsibilities are overseeing day-to-day group activities of human trafficking supervisors, providing emotional support for survivors during difficult times or stressful situations, helping out with art therapy, transporting and accompanying survivors to shopping areas or to appointments, and maintaining records of all interactions (which includes progress notes, evaluations, health information). I also do documentation and help out the case manager with creating templates for social media as projects on the side.

Accomplishments

My greatest accomplishment during my internship was building raw, trusting relationships with the survivors I worked with. Over time, they felt comfortable coming to me when they were stressed or needed someone to talk to, and that meant so much to me. In the beginning, it was hard to connect with them until they learned to trust me. I also felt proud of keeping up with all the documentation and notes because it helped our team stay organized and support everyone better.

Learning experience

The biggest lessons I learned were to be patient and really listen. Everyone heals at their own pace, and I learned how important it is to be completely adaptable and meet people where they are at. I also learned that good communication is vital when working with a team, especially in super stressful moments. Another lesson I learned is that showing up consistently (emotionally and professionally) makes a big difference in how others respond to you. I realized that even small interactions can have a huge impact on someone who is going through a difficult time.

What advice would you give?

My advice for future students would be to stay open-minded, be willing to adjust, and remember that even small things you do can make a big difference for someone. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn from the people around you. Most of the survivors I worked with were older than me, and they had so many stories and experiences to share and learn from. It was incredibly rewarding to see their progress as the months rolled by and to know that I was part of their support system. Also, don't forget to take care of you too!