Faith Ciavarella

Describe the steps you took to obtain your internship/research opportunity/fellowship.

As a Community Ambassador, students get the opportunity to work alongside a non-profit organization and assist through developing projects, creating fundraisers, or sharing with the community on how to become informed and involved. I first heard about this program after meeting with an assistant adviser of FSU's Center for Leadership and Social Change, and was curious as to how I could become further involved with the opportunities both the Career Center and the Center for Leadership and Social Change offers to its students. After applying, students meet for a couple interviews to find which non-profit best fits the students' interests, while also accommodating the non-profit organization's needs. Below is the link to apply. :) https://thecenter.fsu.edu/service/community-ambassador-program

How far in advance did you prepare and begin applying for your experiential learning opportunity?

Although this internship lasts from the Fall of 2017 to the Spring of 2018, I began preparing for this experiential learning opportunity in the Spring of 2017. I remember meeting with an Adviser from 4-H, the non profit organization I'm working with this year, and brainstorming with her the various ways I could help out. Over the summer, I prepared for this by creating a planner and dividing out my time, outlining due dates, and becoming enthusiastic about the work there was to be done for the semesters ahead.

If you used any Career Center services, resources, or events to obtain your internship/research opportunity/fellowship, what were they? How did they support your application process?

Do not be afraid to reach out. Initially, I wasn't sure how to become involved with the Career Center, but after visiting a couple times and learning more about how to construct a killer resume, I simply asked the people at the front desk for any additional opportunities and events the Career Center offers. Take a visit and they will address all of your concerns.

Describe some of your responsibilities or duties during your experiential learning opportunity.

It is my responsibility as a 4-H Intern to get as many people involved in 4-H as possible. This means that I must recruit volunteers, students, and on-campus resources, and connect them with the non-profit organization I have teamed up with.

What was a typical day like “on the job?”

4-H offers a vast majority of clubs that range from Engineering to Sewing, and everything in between, so during my time involved with experiential learning, I have created a 4-H Musicale Theatre Club where we play lots of improvisational games, read scripts of all different genres, and even learn music together. Through these clubs, children get the opportunity to learn more about interests they might have outside of their classroom curriculum, while creating passionate friends through this educational and enriching experience.

What are some major takeaways from your experience? How will these help prepare you for the next step after graduation?

This experience has helped me grow in tremendous ways both academically and professionally. I am unbelievably grateful that I have found this opportunity given by the Center and have been connected with a truly amazing non-profit organization that I respect and support wholeheartedly.

Did this experience help clarify your career path? If yes, how so?

This experience has helped clarify my career path by solidifying my passion to work with children and see them grow into inspiring young people.