During her final semester at Penn State Brandywine, human development and family studies (HDFS) major and May 2020 graduate Carly Dill interned at the West End Neighborhood House in Wilmington, Delaware — an experience that gave her both a practical application of her studies and a clearer direction for her future.
According to its website, West End’s mission is to “help individuals achieve self-sufficiency, reach and maintain their maximum potential, and live responsibly and harmoniously in a healthy community and complex world.”
As a case management assistant in the education and employment department, Dill supported instructors, employment specialists and other case managers. She also managed the nonprofit organization’s social media channels.
“You have to step up and fulfill so many different roles,” said Dill. “I learned how to create connections, build rapport, and maintain professional relationships. Mental health is part of it too —advocating for my own mental health while also supporting others’ mental health.”
Like all HDFS majors, Dill was required to complete an internship; however, she was concerned about having to forego employment.
Encouraged by two of her professors — Jennifer Zosh, associate professor of human development and family studies, and Michael Sturm, lecturer in human development and family studies — Dill applied to Penn State’s Student Engagement Network Grant Program. Dill was awarded the grant, which gave her the financial support she needed to complete her internship.
“Mr. Sturm was incredibly supportive and empathetic to the situation that I was going through,” said Dill. “I think this semester would have looked very different if he wasn't teaching this class.”
Sturm, who also serves as the internship coordinator for Brandywine’s HDFS program, plays an integral part in students’ professional development.
“Carly was an exceptional student who showed a lot of growth throughout the course of her internship thanks to her high degree of self-awareness,” said Sturm. “The experience challenged her, allowed her to learn more about the direction she would like to head in the future and what she needs to thrive in future professional experiences. These takeaways are exactly how students can use their internship experience to their advantage before graduation.”