Ethan Schwendemann

Major: Child, Adult, and Family Services
Company/Organization: Heartland Senior Services
Company/Organization website: http://www.heartlandseniorservices.com
Destination: Ames, IA
Timeframe: Summer
Advisor/Coordinator Email: enloe@iastate.edu

Responsibilities

I am the Activity Coordinator's assistant. I help with coming up with different activities, whether its a cognitive activity, mental, or physical. I help serve lunch and run a 20 minute exercise everyday. I will mostly work in the Adult Day Center, which is one half of the building. The other half has an outreach program and senior center. On every Tuesday I will run a 1930's-1970's trivia, and recently I was asked to help deliver Farmer's Market Check's to adults who were eligible for the funds. I delivered these checks all across Story County, and will more than likely help out the Outreach Program again later on this month (July).

Accomplishments

Developing amazing personal relationships with the residents, getting to know their past lives when they were younger, getting to know their caregiver, and how their lives operate. Most of the residents are so caring and kind, and just want the best for you. It makes you feel good knowing you get to go to work and hang out with these wonderful people.

What advice would you give?

Don't be afraid to try something. This is an internship for a reason, the more experience the better. You'll regret not trying something down the road because more than likely you'll have to take on that task some other time in your career, be prepared!

Career Connections