1. During my role as a Detection Engineering Cybersecurity Intern at GE Aerospace, I had 4 main priorities. These included leading and conducting a threat hunt targeting a major ransomware group, researching and understanding the Detection Engineering Pipeline, gaining general cybersecurity knowledge and receiving certification in Microsoft Azure tools, and participating in an intern-led technology committee to plan several Lunch-n-Learn and Hackathon events.

2. Likely the biggest transformation I went through while working at GE Aerospace was my understanding of the world of cybersecurity. Previously, I thought cybersecurity was only composed of basic firewall defenses, as well as measures of defense in case a cyber threat managed to get through said firewall. I did not know how much went into the field, through both active and passive defense.

Cybersecurity was something that had previously gained my interest, but only to a slight degree. However, after working in the field and gaining an understanding of it, it is something I am far more interested in. There seems to be an unlimited amount of knowledge to be acquired, and I have a strong desire to pursue it. Before the internship, I only had an interest in cybersecurity, but now I believe it to be the field I would like to work in upon graduating.

3. The biggest thing that contributed to this transformation was the major project I worked on during my time at GE Aerospace, leading a threat hunt. This consisted of extensive research on a ransomware group, studying their previous behavior to understand how they act when conducting cyber attacks, and determining methods that could be used to determine if the group was present in our environment. We then carried out these methods through a tool called Splunk, in which we ran queries searching for the indicators we decided to target.

Initially, running the threat hunt was an overwhelming task. I had never even previously heard of a threat hunt and had no knowledge of what went into the process, nor had I used the tool Splunk, so the idea of participating in one seemed daunting, let alone leading one. However, it proved to be an excellent learning experience. Being thrown directly into a leadership position of such a major project forced me to gain a deep understanding of how the threat hunting process worked, as well as helping me improve my leadership skills as I divided tasks among group members as well as making sure all were contributing at the necessary pace.

Another large contribution in this transformation was my assignment leader, Aluor. Aluor was assigned to me by the company to meet with me at least once a week to give me and monitor my projects, help me fit in with the company, and assist me in any way I felt was needed. He was extremely knowledgeable of cybersecurity and made the learning process digestible, smooth, and engaging. He found the perfect balance between challenging me enough to make sure I was learning at an efficient pace, but not doing so to a point of overwhelming me. He had faith in me to lead the threat hunt, and was very patient with me in terms of any questions on struggles I had. Aluor truly made the internship what it was, and awakened an interest in cybersecurity for me.

4. This transformation has been extremely valuable for my future. The experience allowed me to gain a wealth of knowledge regarding working in technology and has acted as important preparation for my future career. Without this internship, I would not have gained an interest in cybersecurity, and it may not have been a field that I pursued a career in. Now that I have some experience, though, it is something I plan to actively pursue and learn about. A better idea of what I may want to do in the future is the most valuable thing I could possibly think of to gain from an internship.

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. 

My STEP project was Interning at Vium Capital as a Summer Analyst. During my time I completed financial spreading of financials for bridge to HUD 232 loans while working on an individual project analysing the CMS database for quality of care. Along with assisting in origination, sizing and diligence of loans alongside full time associates.

2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the
world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project?

My view of the world was completely changed. This was my first professional experience in the workplace and working with the level of professionalism that was required.  My internship at VIUM was my first exposure to high finance and the amount of money that was being transacted. The loans we were underwriting were on average of $15MM and with several $100MM transactions on the books. Being around my highly intelligence co-workers for the summer pushed me to grow tremendously. They all thought on a very high level and are experts in the healthcare finance space with decades of combined experience. It allowed me to see that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to by seeing all the amazing accomplishments people not much older than I have already accomplished.

It also made me realize that if you love what you do you will never work a day in your life. Each and every day I looked forward to work and being around the people I had the pleasure to work with. I learned new things everyday and at the end of the experience look back in amazement with how much I have learned. It made me realize all I can learn in a summer and be excited to never stop learning. At the end of the experience I will forever look back with extreme thankfulness and be glad I had the wonderful experience I did.

3. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you?

My experience this summer was amazing. Each and every day I was excited to go and learn new things. Everyone I worked with was extremely nice and always willing to answer questions no matter how busy they were. The analyst and associates I had the pleasure of working with are not much older than I am and really inspired me to work hard to be in the same places they are when I am their age. Each one of them took us under their wing and helped us out in any possible way they could. If they explained something to us and five minutes later we forgot how to do it they would be more than happy to roll their chair over and help us understand it better.

The founders and partners were also very accessible and made sure we knew how much they cared about the interns. two of the six partners live in other regions of the country operating out of different offices. Both of them book the time out of their busy lives to fly up and take us to dinner while interning. Not only did the take us to dinner but also took additional time to sit and talk with us about our experiences and time interning. The two founders also spend numerous hours talking and interacting with us getting to know us and making sure we were having a good experience. It made me understand there are companies that truly care about their workers and everyone is not just a number.

The amount of responsibility that is put on an analyst is amazing and something I truly admired. It made me understand that when properly trained you can accomplish a large amount of work and do it very efficiently. Even as interns were where doing work monitoring deals and assessing the financial state of the property and reporting back on how there doing. They not only put a lot work on the analyst but also trusted that the work is correct. It was very nice to see that when you do something right, people believe you and trust the information provided is true. The overall experience allowed me to understand that if you have a positive work environment, you can accomplish amazing things.

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? 
The reason this change was significant to me was how it changed my outlook on the world.  I no longer see things as I did prior to this experience. I understand anything I put my mind to and work hard at I can accomplish. Information I learned over the summer will be invaluable to me as I progress through my career providing a wonderful foundation to build upon. Dreams I thought were once to far out and would never be achievable I now know I can achieve.

Intern Book Drive:                            Individual Photo:

My STEP Signature Project was a Quality Internship with the Walsh Turner Joint Venture, where I worked on a large-scale construction project. The main activities of my internship involved planning, coordinating, and managing various aspects of the project, using technology to track progress, collaborating with colleagues, and developing problem-solving skills to overcome unexpected challenges.

During my internship, I experienced a transformation in my understanding of myself and my career goals. As a student with interests in public affairs, community organization, and engineering in the public interest, I initially saw myself primarily working in the public sector or with non-profit organizations. However, my internship with the construction company opened my eyes to the possibilities of using engineering skills for public good and community development.

The key events and interactions during my internship that led to this transformation were the exposure to the construction industry’s impact on public infrastructure and community spaces. I realized that engineering and construction have a significant role to play in shaping the built environment and improving people’s lives. The opportunity to work on a project that directly contributed to public spaces and facilities helped me see the potential for engineering to positively influence communities and society at large.

Working collaboratively with my colleagues in the construction team also broadened my perspective. I learned the importance of effective communication and teamwork in achieving project goals. These skills are transferable to various aspects of public affairs and community organization, where building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders are essential for successful project implementation and community engagement.

Moreover, the internship provided me with valuable problem-solving experiences. Dealing with unexpected challenges in the construction process required quick thinking and innovative solutions. These problem-solving skills are highly relevant to engineering in the public interest, where addressing complex societal issues often demands creative and adaptive approaches.

The change and transformation I experienced during my internship are significant and valuable for my life and future goals. I now see engineering as a powerful tool to contribute to public affairs and community development. The combination of engineering skills with public policy and community engagement has opened up new possibilities for my academic and professional pursuits. I plan to explore interdisciplinary opportunities that integrate engineering with public affairs, seeking ways to use my technical knowledge for the betterment of communities and society.

In conclusion, my internship with the Walsh Turner Joint Venture provided me with a transformative experience that expanded my understanding of myself and my career goals. The exposure to construction projects and engineering in the public interest has reshaped my perspective on the potential for engineering to positively impact communities. By integrating my engineering skills with public affairs and community organization, I aim to pursue a path that combines technical expertise with social impact, working towards the betterment of society and the public interest.

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed.

I interned with the dietitians working for The Ohio State Football team to gain a better understanding of the importance of nutrition in high-level athletes. I completed a variety of tasks to help further my knowledge and learned about the day-to-day responsibilities of being a sports dietitian. I made post-practice snacks and shakes and nutrition presentations to demonstrate my understanding. 

2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project? Write one or two paragraphs to describe the change or transformation that took place.

While at my internship, I discovered my desire to work in a team-like environment and still have autonomy. I thrive off social interactions and enjoy building bonds and connections. The relationships I built with the Ohio State Athletic Staff made this evident. I have always thought I was a collaborative worker, but this internship made me realize I do well in having my responsibilities and contributing new ideas. The dietitians gave me specific jobs like making post-practice shakes and preparing nutrition slides. The practice shakes gave me new interactions with the football players, and I had the freedom to add my personal touch to the education slides. I now understand I succeed in quick pace and sociable environments that have individual responsibilities where I can add new ideas.

3. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you? Write three or four paragraphs describing the key aspects of your experiences completing your STEP Signature Project that led to this change/transformation.

During my internship, I was responsible for making 50 of the pre-written post-practice shakes. It started as a stressful, time-consuming task. However, as I grew to memorize the shake orders, I became more confident in myself and had more time for conversation. With time, making the shakes became a part of my daily routine. It helped me grow my understanding of the needs of the players and build a professional relationship with them. 

Additionally, witnessing the strong, independent female staff work in a predominantly male environment was encouraging. It also led to personal transformations. The women had respect from others, and each role was highly valued. Their confidence was evident through all their interactions with others and they had respect in the facility. As a woman, I have been a witness and a part of toxic work environments where decisions were based on gender, not capability. Being around female leaders has had a positive impact on me, and the internship made clear the power of a female presence in an environment dominated by men. 

Moreover, I solidified my want to directly help others with my future profession. A high-performing athletic team, such as The Ohio State Football team, has high needs. I learned a lot about the differences in meals players eat based on their goal weight. I came to understand the food ordering process needed to sustain the players for pre and post-practice fueling. Also, I learned how available I had to be at any moment to assist the players with meal prep, or fueling. All of these activities made me realize I feel productive and find joy when helping others. 

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? Write one or two paragraphs discussing why this change or development matters and/or relates to your academic, personal, and/or professional goals and future plans.

The lessons I learned about myself during my internship will follow me throughout future academics, internships, and careers. Understanding I work best in team-like environments, where all parts of the staff are viewed as valuable, helps me build confidence and makes my work enjoyable. In the classroom, it will prepare me to work harder with individual work and appreciate group work activities. Knowing how female leaders have impacted my life, encourages me to grow into the same role model for other young girls through my involvement with school and role in careers. It will motivate me to work hard for the degrees I want to get and the positions I deserve. Discovering my want to help others and recognizing it encourages me to work, will help me find jobs that fit this skill. Overall, my internship with Ohio State Football taught me about myself and how I work with others. The relationships I have built with the dietitians will follow me beyond my years as an undergraduate student, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity through STEP. 

My STEP signature project was a 4 weeklong internship program in the small town of Gandoca, Costa Rica. My team of consultants helped a small business owner to establish her chocolate business. We were able to accomplish this by creating a website and social media pages, as well as providing research about potential grants and distribution channels.

This project changed my assumptions about the world because it introduced me to an entirely new culture and way of living that I had never previously experienced. Because the village of Gandoca was so small with only about 600 inhabitants, everyone was like family to one another. The people had a deep respect for one another and were willing to help anyone in need without question. Another aspect about the village being so remote was that it was not easy for them to access resources that we have easily available here in the United States. Things such as being five minutes away from the nearest grocery store or gas station are not even close to reality for those living in Gandoca. Because they are so remote, they only make a trip into town to buy things such as sugar and flour from the store about once a month. Everything else they need is grown themselves or bought from someone in the village. This has taught me how possible it is to live a much more sustainable lifestyle and opened my eyes to how much waste I generate in my day-to-day life.

The thing that was most impactful to me during my STEP project were the relationships I was able to form even with my time being spent there being so short. The woman who owned our small business was amazing and so inspirational. She was a single mother who decide to start her own business to help provide for her family during the Covid-19 pandemic. Even with resources such as Wi-Fi being very limited to her, she was able to do the research necessary to learn how to make delicious chocolate from scratch in a way that was conducive to larger-scale production.

Another relationship I formed was with the man who owned our place of residence during our time in Costa Rica. Besides owning and operating the place we stayed — Casa Tucan Tranquilo — he also ran a successful sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation effort. We were able to watch his help two sea turtles lay their eggs, and then rehome the eggs to a location where they would be safe from poachers and have the best chance of survival. Seeing how passionate he was about his work and about helping a species who was unable to protect itself from the dangers of humans was amazing, and something I will never forget. I will take with me the deep respect he had for the environment, and all of the creatures within it, and will do more to advocate for those species who are in danger of going extinct.

Finally, the relationships I formed with the other Ohio State students on the trip was extremely impactful to me. Before taking off for Costa Rica, I had only formed very superficial relationships with the other eleven students on the trip through the projects we were required to do before takeoff. However, with all of the amazing activities we were doing with one another and the once-in-a-lifetime experiences we were having as a group, we quickly bonded. We were able to work together as a team to accomplish things that I would never have been able to do on my own. I learned what working in a successful group where each person likes and respects each other and has something unique to contribute looks like and this is something that I hope to experience again in my future workplaces.

My experiences in Costa Rica have truly changed my life for the better. My perspective of the world is broadened after learning about an entirely new culture and way of life that has such a unique way of prioritizing respect for one another and the world around us that provides us with the necessities we need to live. Additionally, I gained valuable insight on how beneficial it is to bond with the members of your team to be successful. I learned valuable business skills about marketing for a company and creating a vision for a brand that I will use when applying for future careers. However, overall, the relationships I formed along the way taught me the most valuable skills that have helped me to become a better version of myself. As sustainability continues to become a more pressing issue, having this experience to help me understand the value of living a low waste lifestyle and being conscientious of how my actions affect the world around me is beneficial to my personal life, but also to my future career as I will have the knowledge necessary to advice my future company on why they should make their practices more sustainable.

My STEP Signature Project was at Focus Hippotherapy, a 501(c)3 nonprofit in North Jackson, Ohio where I assisted physical therapists to provide treatment to special needs children while they were riding one of five different horses. Hippotherapy is a medically based intervention that can be used as a treatment tool by physical therapists that utilizes the movement and gait of a horse to provide neuromotor inputs to the patient that is riding the horse; with hippotherapy, the patient’s neuromuscular development is amplified when their body makes necessary adjustments to the rhythm of a horse as it moves. As an intern, I learned how the physical therapists treated their patients via hippotherapy, I assisted with treatments of the children alongside a physical therapist, and I gained invaluable knowledge about several disorders the children have been diagnosed with and how hippotherapy is able to improve their physical limitations in many ways.

            A change that took place in my understanding of myself after completing the project was that I have a special interest in pediatric physical therapy for special needs children. I wish to be able to help as many children as I can to be able to gain a wider range of motion, complete tasks, and participate in many activities after undergoing treatment and overcoming the physical limitations of their disorder. Being able to see the children smile from ear to ear atop their horse while also exceling and having fun with their therapy exercises is invaluable and is something that I want to continue to experience in my profession in the future. I also learned that I enjoy being around and taking care of horses. I knew the workload of taking care of animals as my family owns a farm, but I had never been around horses until this experience; I now know how to care for them as well.

Before my internship, I really was not sure how physical therapy could be performed on a moving horse let alone show improvement in the patient’s condition overtime. However, after my seven-week experience at Focus Hippotherapy, I have been able to see such a creative side of the field of physical therapy that allows the children to gain a wider range of motion, improve their balance, become stronger, improve their motor planning, increase body awareness, gain a greater ability to focus on tasks, and achieve an improved sense of confidence in themselves while riding their horse. Another perspective that I gained after my internship is how special needs children are perceived by so many people as incapable of tasks such as riding a horse because of the physical limitations imposed by their disorder. Focus Hippotherapy completely defies those assumptions by allowing special needs children to ride a horse and improve their conditions as they do so.

During my STEP Signature Project, I worked with a five-year-old boy that has cerebral palsy. After each hippotherapy session, I could see improvements in his balance, strength, and confidence while riding the horse. Something that varies from adult to pediatric physical therapy is that the parents are highly involved in their child’s treatment plan and progress. At the end of the seven-week program, this boy’s mother thanked us profusely for helping her son be able to defy the odds of his diagnosis and ride a horse while also counteracting some of the physical limitations imposed on him by his disease via hippotherapy. After receiving treatment, this boy can stand fully upright in his walker and has the strength to walk on his own with minimal assistance from his mom. He also can pull himself up into his car seat with ease. My experience with this boy and many other children from the program this summer made me realize just how impactful being a physical therapist in pediatrics can be. My goal is  to help as many kids as possible to get stronger so that their diagnosis does not limit them from going after their goals and dreams.

Another key aspect of my experience at Focus Hippotherapy was the upkeep of the horse barn and horses that are a key aspect to the program. Each day that I went to the barn I had to clean stalls, brush horses, feed and water horses, and walk horses before the program started. As a result of having these daily chores at the barn, I appreciated the hard work it takes behind the scenes to run the hippotherapy program. Much of this hard work also depends on interns like me and volunteers from the community to be able to treat the children and impact their lives in such a positive way. As Focus Hippotherapy is a nonprofit, all donations and money that comes into the program goes to taking care of the horses through feed, saddles, brushes, medicines, treats, the upkeep of the barn, tools, and several other items. Another important way funds are allocated is a scholarship program for children that cannot afford treatment for the seven-week-program. At Focus Hippotherapy, no child is turned away from reaping the vast number of physical and emotional benefits of the program. Before my project, I had volunteered at different nonprofits in Columbus and other areas, but I had never been a part of the innerworkings of one. After my internship, I have a greater understanding of the behind the scenes work of a nonprofit and what time, energy, and dedication it takes to keep one running effectively.

Lastly, prior to my internship, I had never been exposed to hippotherapy before and was not sure exactly how the special needs children were going to be able to safely ride a horse let alone be able to do their physical therapy exercises while riding one. I, like so many others, had the false assumption that children with special needs would have a difficult time riding a horse without assistance from the physical therapist and would not be able to perform many exercises while atop one. This assumption was proven false every day that my internship took place. Many children rode the horses backwards, on their hands and knees, steered the horse with reins, kept their balance while the horse trotted, played catch while on the horse, and many other exercises that helped the children work on their individual goals for treatment. Some goals are increased core strength, improved posture, listening to directions, enhanced balance, and many others. The hippotherapy treatment sessions for each child were tailored to their goals and their capabilities, and by the end of the seven-week-program every single child treated left with improvements on their goals and a better quality of life. I am so grateful I was able to be a part of such an amazing program that completely defies the diagnoses of the children partaking in the program and allows them to accomplish challenging tasks because of their hard work and dedication. My Step Signature Project at Focus Hippotherapy granted me with an invaluable experience of witnessing children defy the odds of their disorders each day while grinning from ear to ear.

The changes I’ve experienced after completing my STEP Signature Project listed above are significant to me because working with these kids has made me more interested in pursuing pediatric physical therapy as a future career choice. The children I worked with have also shown me that no goal is too big to accomplish. Watching these children overcome obstacles and accomplish their goals despite their disorders has shown me that nothing is impossible if one puts forth their best effort and never gives up. I will remember the perseverance and strength these children in the program had the next time I must face an academic or personal obstacle and have them motivate me to keep going and not give up. I am so thankful for STEP that way I could partake in this life-changing internship. I will never forget the strong and courageous children that I helped successfully treat.

My STEP signature project was a Pre-Med Internship at Miami Valley Hospital. As an intern, I was assigned to a specialty of my choice (cardiology) where I would work alongside multiple physicians to research and learn about the specifics of cardiology. At the end of the internship, we were given the opportunity to present our findings to the medical staff at Miami Valley Hospital. I presented on the association of diuretic administration time and length of stay in hospital for patients with heart failure.

This internship was my first full 8-5 job, while I have worked at other jobs before I have not had to constantly arrive on time at 8 am every day. I thought I was really going to struggle with this as I am not an early bird but surprisingly I never had any issues with waking up and getting to work on time. I proved to myself when motivated properly I am able to overcome personal issues and rise to the occasion. Furthermore, I learned how to deal with roadblocks in a professional setting.  This experience was really frustrating as it felt like we kept running into more forms and clearances we needed to get before finally getting somewhere, it really taught me how to keep cool and how to act appropriately even when caught up in the corporate red tape. I also realized how unhealthy our country is, I encountered patients that either smoked 1-2 packs of cigarettes a day, drank over 7+ beers in an evening every week, or had a BMI over 40. It’s shocking to see how unmotivated people are to gain control of their health and how these habits lead to serious health issues.

My relationship and interactions with the physicians I worked with genuinely made me want to go to work every morning. I feel that I built a strong bond between myself and my mentors and I was able to grasp a lot of the information they taught me. I learned how to read EKGs, what the process of heart failure diagnosis is, and how to read echocardiograms. Having this bond and learning interesting skills motivated me to ensure that I was always on time throughout the entire internship. I think it was really important for me to learn that I was able to rise to the occasion, especially in a professional setting.

Getting proper clearance and figuring out who to talk to was a huge obstacle that took a lot of effort and time to sort out early on. Due to working in the hospital, there are a ton of rules and regulations for which I had to be cleared before I was allowed to conduct my research. Luckily there was a workaround that allowed me to be cleared for research with data that had non-patient identifiers. I was required to slightly shift my project towards a more quality improvement basis but was still able to continue the research I had planned. While insanely frustrating, this experience proved to me that I can handle unique challenges that I am not accustomed to.

While I was with some of the physicians and technicians, I was able to interact with a ton of patients and follow their medical plans. It was super interesting to see what brought patients to the hospital and what procedures or medications they needed. As my time at the hospital increased, I noticed a ton of similar factors that brought patients to the hospital (smoking, obesity, alcoholism). I learned a lot about my health and how important it is to maintain a proper weight, not smoke, exercise daily, reduce caffeine intake, and avoid excessive alcohol consumption. These factors are some of the steps that can be taken to prevent the development of congestive heart failure, the leading cause of hospitalization in adults 65+. Personally, this is leading me to take my health a lot more seriously as small habits that I develop now can cause a lot of issues or benefits down the line.

I’m glad I was able to prove to myself that I am capable of rising the occasion to complete certain tasks even if I feel that I might not be able to. This was a boost to my confidence which should help me move forward when I am facing larger challenges. I was also able to prove to myself that I can handle the curveballs that are thrown at me. Going into this internship I wasn’t expecting to have to fight an upward battle against some of the research administration, but I am glad to have that experience because I feel better prepared for the professional world once I am out of college. Additionally, I feel like I learned a lot about lifestyle choices and how they can really affect your health, this knowledge is extremely important to me. Not only will it help me down the line as I learn more about the field of medicine, but it will help me lead a healthier and longer life.

Sydney Bell

Category: Internship

My STEP Signature Project was with a non-profit organization called “Out of Darkness”. Their goal is to help survivors of human trafficking while spreading the word of God. I helped at the Safe Home for one week before it shut down, learning about trauma-informed care. After the first week, I helped at the Drop-In Center every Friday by helping women pick out clothes, serving them food, talking with them, and making sure they got showers.

Many things changed for me throughout my internship. I learned that I am not really interested in the social work aspect of helping survivors of human trafficking. I am more interested in the law and making sure they get the justice they deserve. My views on religion changed as well, I learned that I am not a Christian. Overall, the internship allowed me to see how fortunate I truly am.

One event that led me to believe that the social work side is not for me is the golf fundraiser that was thrown. Throughout the fundraiser, I shared information with the golfers about the organization. I wasn’t a huge fan of the event because it felt like we were begging for money. Even helping at the Safe Home and Drop-In Center affected me. Although I was helping the women, I did not feel like that was enough. The organization’s approach is just a temporary solution.

My views on religion changed while participating in my internship as well. Throughout my time at the Safe Home and Drop-In Center, the volunteers would say things that logically made no sense. For example, they would say things like “Although we’re in a bad neighborhood, I know that we’re safe here because the Lord is on our side.” I have always had a complex relationship with religion, specifically Christianity. This internship brought me clarity when it came to religion. It allowed me to see that Christianity is not for me right now.

Driving to my internship was another event that led to transformation. I am from Westerville, Ohio, which is a middle-class suburb in Columbus. My internship was on the South side of Columbus, where the area was not what I was used to. Every week on my drive down there I would see countless homeless individuals, random people at bus stops, run-down buildings, and old, boarded-up houses. Even the Drop-In Center that operated in a house was very small compared to what I am used to. The experience allowed me to be grateful for what I have and the life that I live.

The final interaction that influenced change in me happened on my very first day. I walked into the Safe Home and was introduced to the women and one of them was the same exact age as me. It really blew my mind to see how different our paths in life were. After talking with the women my age, I was just grateful for my life because that could have been me if I did not grow up the way that I did.

This change in me is valuable for a few reasons. It allowed me to gain clarity when it comes to my desired career path. The social work aspect is interesting. However, I know that it would not fulfill me. Becoming a lawyer would allow me to help those in need differently because I would have access to more resources than a smaller non-profit organization. It was also valuable because although it was not the best fit, I learned a lot about myself that will allow me to thrive in the future.