Experience
Below is an expansive list of the many experiences I have in healthcare, stressful situations, special needs, well situations, and other professional work, along with hour verification forms.
Healthcare Experience
Connect 1-2-3
Cape Town, South Africa
July--August 2021
Hours: 120
Connect 1-2-3 is a company that coordinated the child life practicum at Victoria Hospital and Tygerberg Hospital.
As a child life practicum student, I rotated between a pediatric clinic, HIV clinic, pediatric hospital unit, and oncology transitional housing engaging in assessment, rapport building, medical play, debrief, and transition. I also provided service hours and implemented therapeutic activities in a school for children with autism, a school for children with profound developmental disabilities, and a group foster home for children who were victims of abuse and/or neglect. I completed developmental assessments, play observations, daily journals, weekly supervision and group workshops
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
St. Petersburg, FL
December 2019--
March 2020
Hours: 19.29
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital aims to provide leadership in child healthcare through treatment, education, advocacy, and research.
As an activity center volunteer, I cleaned the toys and equipment at the beginning and end of each shift, greeted patients and families when they arrived and invited them to do various activities together, assisted with transporting patients to and from their rooms, engaged with patients and families in the activity center, played games, created art projects, and played pretend with the patients and families, and adapted to the changing needs of the patients and families. This program was suspended due to COVID-19.
Stressful Situations & Special Needs Experience
This Child Here
Varna, Bulgaria
July 2022
Hours: 55
This Child Here is a nonprofit that works with Ukrainian refugees. They offer several services, including training foster families to receive orphans, mentoring youth in facilities, and teaching families long-term skills to cope with the war and rebuild their lives.
As a volunteer, I traveled to Varna, Bulgaria to meet a group of Ukrainian mothers and children (ages 10 to 16). The purpose of this trip was to give the families a break from living in a warzone while providing them with opportunities to heal. I assisted in some therapeutic activities and engaged with the children through games and art crafts.
Aurora Day Camp
Atlanta, GA
May--July 2022
Hours: 330
Aurora Day Camp is a summer camp that aims to bring back the joys of childhood to children with cancer and their siblings. Aurora is free for anyone who would like to attend. They offer drama, art, dance, writing, sports, and more classes. Aurora also has special programing, including a carnival, talent show, super sloppy week, and color war.
As the transportation coordinator, I coordinated all bus routes, bus stops, campers and families that ride the bus, and the bus counselors. My responsibilities were mostly during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up, so I was fortunate enough to spend the rest of the work day where I wanted to. This consisted of attending classes with campers, helping the camper support specialist with camper behavioral challenges, and aiding the program director with planning and implementing special activities. I also worked directly under a Certified Child Life Specialist; this opportunity met all 6 standards for a Child Life Practicum.
Hearts Connected, LLC
Remote
October 2021--May 2022
Hours: 104
Hearts Connected has a mission to meet the unique needs of children, teens, and families facing difficult situations and stressful life transitions. Through their therapeutic play and interventions, their team is a secure and supportive partner for coping with and healing from life's unexpected and unpredictable challenges.
As a child life media & content intern, I plan the content calendar for the upcoming month, create content, and post multiple times a week, write child life-related blog posts, create go-to family resources for the child life specialists to use in private sessions, and work one-on-one with a CCLS to discuss best practices in supporting children and families through specific healthcare experiences, life’s big changes, and day-to-day challenges.
Check out my blog posts on the benefits of telehealth & teaching kids self-love
Flying Horse Farms
Morrow County, OH
October--November 2021
Hours: 30
Flying Horse Farms is a summer camp and family retreat whose mission is to enrich the lives of children with serious illnesses and their families by providing magical, transforming fun through medically-safe, cost-free experiences.
As a volunteer counselor, I planned, prepared, and implemented activities (such as arts & crafts, botanical garden, spotlight drama) for children and families with special healthcare needs (diabetes, Crohn's, cancer, etc.)
Family Behavioral Resources
Pittsburgh, PA
October 2020--
May 2021
Hours: 418
Family Behavioral Resources is a behavioral health organization focused on delivering services to consumers that is dedicated to patients, families, and the communities they serve. They prioritize delivering quality behavioral health services that ensures safety and preserves dignity while enhancing the well-being of those who entrust them with their care.
As a behavioral health technician, I stabilized a child's behavior by implementing the approved behavior management plan, modeled and taught appropriate problem-solving and social skills to the child and family, coached the family in implementing the approved behavior management plan, and continually assessed the child and family's response to treatment interventions.
Empath Health: Suncoast Hospice
St. Petersburg, FL
January--April 2020
Hours: 33
Empath Health supports anyone facing chronic or advanced illness. They help patients live as comfortably and meaningfully as possible and offer assistance to their families and caregivers along the way. No matter where someone is on their journey, their spectrum of medical and emotional support services provides compassionate care for each and every patient.
As a volunteer, I provided companionship and support for patients and families, managed the family break room, and assisted in fundraising and special events. This program was suspended due to COVID-19.
Well Situations Experience
Montclair Cooperative School
Montclair, NJ
September 2022--Present
Hours: TBD
Montclair Cooperative School is a community of learners (Early Ages through 8th grade) where children are invited to take risks, question, explore, discuss, interpret, and create. The Co-op's mission is to educate the whole child, keeping children at the center of all we do and involving parents in the life of the school. They give children the opportunity to excel in a nurturing and academically exciting environment, working with them to find ways to apply learning effectively in solving problems and constructing new knowledge.
As a substitute teacher, I fill in for teachers and assistant teachers when they are ill or unavailable. I've worked with Early Ages through 2nd grade and covered after-school care. I've assisted in activities such as music class, Spanish class, free play, ASL, reading buddies, and nature walks around the neighborhood.
Camp Warrior
Crawfordville, FL
May 2014--June 2018
Hours: 2700
Camp Warrior (formerly known as Camp Indian Springs) aimed to create a sense of community and connection amongst all who attended, camper and staff alike. They stressed the importance of the outdoors, nature, and movement in overall wellbeing. They believed that every child and teenager should feel a sense of adventure, wonder, accomplishment, and leadership.
As a camp counselor, lifeguard, and eventually Assistant Director, I taught classes (such as high ropes, canoeing, horseback, etc.), trained counselors-in-training, planned events (such as evening activities, theme days) organized day and overnight trips, and managed camp’s social media pages.
Check out my photo gallery! These are pictures accumulated through all of my experiences with children that are listed above. Due to privacy laws, I don't have pictures with every experience. I hope you enjoy getting a glance of me in action.
Other Professional Experience
Blood Soup
Remote
April--September 2022
Blood Soup is a children's book and hands-on experience that teaches children the four components of blood and the reasoning behind a blood draw. The goal of this book is to empower children to know more about their bodies and take the fear out of blood. While the Blood Soup activity has been around for years, CCLS Jessica Wilfore created the children's book to read and follow along with the hands-on activity.
As a creative writing intern, I assisted with social media management and lead virtual storytimes. I also helped in creating more children's books with hands-on activities for publication, including a book about general surgery.
Eckerd Review
St. Petersburg, FL
August 2017--
May 2020
The Eckerd Review is Eckerd College's on-campus literary magazine. Their annual journal showcases the vast community of writers and artists at Eckerd College, publishing poetry, fiction, nonfiction, hybrid work, and visual arts. The work in their pages represents not just the individual talent at Eckerd but also the collaborative spirit of the community's artistic endeavors.
As editor-in-chief, I facilitated staff meetings, coordinated public events, interviewed and appointed internal positions, and curated and edited magazine submissions. During this time, I created the hybrid genre as an addition to the magazine, which combined visual arts and the written form.
Check out the Eckerd Review issues I was a part of in 2018, 2019, & 2020
Buzzy Pain Care Labs
Atlanta, GA
May--August 2019
Pain Care Labs is the company that invented Buzzy: a non-pharmaceutical pain relief solution to needle injections. Through a deep understanding of science, they create easy-to-use devices to address suffering and fear. Buzzy has been thoroughly researched and proven to reduce pain during needle procedures. Pain Care Labs also provides distraction techniques to use for kids during injections.
As an editing intern, I compiled and edited writings and articles from the CEO & founder into a cohesive informational manuscript, collaborated with other needle fear scientists, and adapted research and informational articles to be more accessible and understandable to the everyday masses.