Anna Steffen

Responsibilities

During my internship with the SEBMH department of the Johnston School District, I collaborated with school staff and family support professionals to address students' social, emotional, and behavioral needs. My responsibilities included supporting students through individualized interventions, participating in meetings with families and school teams, helping connect families to community resources, and assisting in crisis response.

Accomplishments

My greatest accomplishment during my internship was building meaningful relationships with students and families while helping address barriers that impacted student success. Seeing students make progress and families feel supported reinforced my passion for social work and strengthened my confidence in my ability to make a meaningful impact.

Learning experience

One of the greatest lessons I learned is that meaningful progress takes patience, consistency, and a willingness to approach challenges with empathy and flexibility. This experience also reinforced the value of trauma-informed care and the impact that effective communication and family-school partnerships can have on supporting student success.

What advice would you give?

My advice for future students in this major is to take every opportunity to gain hands-on experience, ask questions, and build relationships with professionals in the field. Be open to learning from challenges, and remember that the work you do can make a meaningful difference in others' lives.