Getting My Feet Wet

Hi everyone! My name is Joanna and I am currently a junior in the Lynch School with a major in human development and a minor in psychology. I am currently trying to decide whether I am most interested in school counseling or mental health counseling. To get some hands on experience, I spent last year volunteering at Mass General Hospital in Boston and I am currently volunteering at a local high school, Mount Alvernia High School that is located in Newton, MA (just five minutes from campus!)

While at Mass General I worked along side the Child Life Specialist in the pediatric oncology ward. This was one of the most life changing and rewarding experiences I have ever been a part of. My typical day consisted of visiting multiple patients within the Outpatient unit. I traveled from room to room with both the Child Life Specialist and a team of doctors and psychologists. My favorite part of the day was the one on one time that I spent with the children. We would spend the day doing anything from playing board games, to making jewelry, to painting pictures for the playroom. I acted as a companion to these children and was changed by the ways in which such simple actions of mine put the biggest smiles on their faces.

In order to get a better feel for what it is like to work in a school setting, I am currently volunteering at Mount Alvernia High School, and all girls, private, Catholic high school. I spend my time in the guidance office preparing the senior’s files to be sent to colleges, help the younger students become organized and pick their classes, and help those in charge get organize for events. I especially like the one on one time that I get to spend with the girls and it has been very easy to get to know each of them based on the small size of the school!

While I am still in the process of exploring different options, my volunteer work has helped me gain a better sense of aspects of jobs that I will seek out and the aspects of certain jobs that I will try to avoid! I know that I want to work with people one day, specifically children and teens. Boston College has provided me with the resources I need to get involved around the community and these experiences will surely benefit me in the future!