From Pupil to Pro: Students Work as Interns During Winter Break

Many Curry College students used the extended winter term to pursue new internship opportunities, including work in education, media production, and information technology, among other fields. 

Alex Ochterbeck '22 sought a financial planning role at Ameriprise Financial when the ice hockey season's delay afforded him more time over the break. "Normally, we are back at school after Christmas to start practicing, but this year is a little different, and that opened the door to a winter internship," says the business management major. 

"Since we are operating during a pandemic, clients are opting not to come into the office, which means the team is willing to let me get involved more," says the student-athlete. "I feel like with most internships, the interns are sent to the copy or filing room all day. I have been working in all business areas, helping with financial reports, giving my insight on securities that I have researched, and even looking at various opportunities for the practice to grow as a small business. I enjoy being able to do work in a field that I am interested in pursuing as a career."  

Amanda Wood '22, a psychology major, is working for Skills Empowered, an organization in Foxboro that provides workshops, events, and small group counseling focused on social-emotional growth for adolescents and teens. "When I learned about the amazing things they do for children on the spectrum as well as with other social difficulties. I knew it was the perfect opportunity because I hope to work with children with similar disabilities in the future," she says.

By supporting their daily virtual sessions and programming, Wood says she's learned different strategies and techniques to lead a group, develop lesson plans, and has strengthened her communication skills. "These skills will help me in the future when leading group sessions." The junior has plans for graduate school and hopes to work in a school or daycare.

Wood is among a team of Curry students working as interns this winter for Skills Empowered. Senior Benjamin Wincze, also a psychology major, says the experience is a step in the career route he hopes to pursue. "This internship experience exposes me to a variety of different backgrounds and how to engage in a clinical setting. I hope to get into a PsyD program, then practice clinical psychology by the time I am 25."