Corinne Stave

Responsibilities

During my internship at Mustangs Childcare, my responsibilities included supervising and caring for children, assisting with daily activities, and creating a safe and positive environment for the kids. I helped with routines such as meals, playtime, learning activities, and cleaning tasks while also communicating with staff and children throughout the day. I observed how the childcare center operated and worked as part of a team to ensure the children’s needs were met. Through this experience, I strengthened my communication, patience, teamwork, and problem-solving skills while gaining hands-on experience in childcare and human services.

Accomplishments

My greatest accomplishment during my internship at Mustangs Childcare was building strong relationships with the children and their families. Over time, I gained the children’s trust and became someone they felt comfortable with each day. I also enjoyed getting to know the families and communicating with them during drop-off and pick-up times. Creating those connections made me feel more confident in my ability to work in childcare and showed me how important positive relationships are in supporting children's development. I also wore Iowa State on my first day, and ever since then, there is one specific kid who constantly shows me when he wears Iowa State, so I thought that was pretty sweet!

Learning experience

One of the greatest lessons I learned during my internship at Mustangs Childcare was the importance of staying true to my morals and values in the workplace. I learned that not everyone works the same way, but it is important to continue treating others with respect, working hard, and doing what is best for the children, no matter what others around you may do. This experience taught me to stay professional, dependable, and true to the kind of worker and leader I want to become.

What advice would you give?

My advice for future students in Human Development and Family Studies is to always work hard and keep an open mind about the different opportunities you will have to help others. Every experience, whether it is in the classroom or during an internship, can teach you valuable lessons about working with children, families, and communities. It is important to stay positive, be willing to learn, and take advantage of opportunities to grow both personally and professionally.