Mattea Wilson

Responsibilities

During my internship, I was responsible for providing direct support to individuals with intellectual disabilities. This includes day-to-day living activities, from getting out into the community and building puzzles together to assisting with making meals and personal care needs. Another aspect is helping members work toward their goals and empowering them to live as independently as possible. Lastly, I was responsible for advocating for members' rights and needs, accurately documenting information, and communicating effectively with our site team.

Accomplishments

My greatest accomplishment during my experience has been advocating for the members that I work with and the development of my professional skills. As an intern, it can be challenging to find your voice to empower change, but I was able to do so for the benefit of our members. During my experience, I also feel I have greatly improved my decision-making and conflict-management skills.

Learning experience

One of my greatest lessons from this experience is that no one ever stops learning. We all can take the time to continue to learn more about different parts of our field and continue to develop as professionals. I have also learned to take the time to reflect on my own experiences, actions, and decisions to better know myself in my role as a professional and better fulfill that role.

What advice would you give?

Take the time to explore your options within your field! Family and Consumer Sciences encompasses many topics and could include many career pathways. This experience differed from many of my previous ones, but I really enjoyed it and learned a lot!