I needed a summer job or internship because my original internship was cancelled due to COVID-19. To be honest, I knew that nursing homes were getting hit hard during the pandemic, so I looked at nursing homes that were hiring and Ashby-Ponds (located in Ashburn, Va.) had a summer internship/emergency COVID-19 response worker hybrid job available. I applied, interviewed, and got offered the job! I started working on the last day of finals week - so May 4th - and then I had to leave in August because I was returning to my off-campus apartment here in Glenside.  

As a COVID-19 screener, I was taking the temperatures of everyone coming in, giving employees and visitors PPE (gown, goggles, N95, gloves), delivering packages all over the building and to the COVID unit, and helping residents host outdoor, socially-distanced visits with their families. I was also in charge of collecting and cleaning goggles during shift changes and sorting through N95s to make sure they are going to the right person.

Although the job did not directly relate to my major or career aspirations - as a psychology major with a minor in gender and sexuality studies and I want to be a mental health or school counselor -  but, the job did show me how geriatric psychology is really important especially during that time. 

What were the biggest takeaways from your experience? 

I have three big takeaways from the experience. One, is that when people are scared, don't understand, or when they are frustrated, they will 'shoot the messenger' no matter how many times you remind them that you do not make decisions. Second, how deeply some people love their families. There were sons, daughters, and grandchildren that I knew by name because of how often they came to wave at their relative through a window and drop something off for them. Lastly, sometimes the elderly do not think before they speak, so it's better to just laugh because nine times out of ten they do not mean the insult they just called you.   

I think my absolute favorite story from this summer is one involving a resident in memory care just because it was so funny and demonstrates my third takeaway. There was a resident on the memory care floor who was one of my favorite residents because she was so sweet and kind. One day, her son came to visit her and their time was up, so I went to go tell her it was time for me to take her back to her apartment. She looked at me and said, 'Can I throw mud at you?'  I was obviously taken aback and told her no, and she replied, 'Huh, okay.'  But when I took her back to her apartment she was just as pleasant as ever. 

What areas are you involved in on campus and how have they helped shape your Arcadia experience?

In addition to competing with the women's swimming team, this year I am a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).  I can't speak much about SAAC since it's my first year with them, but being on the swim team is what really shaped my experience.  The swim team has given me my best friends and taught me so many lessons in time management, conflict control, maturity, leadership, etc.


How have you been staying ready for the swim season over the summer and fall while away from campus?

Since restrictions lifted in Virginia in terms of pools and gyms, I was able to start swimming with my high school club team to stay in shape. Going to the gym still worries me, so I was also doing body weight circuits at home, riding my bike, and walking. Since returning to Glenside in August, I have lost access to a pool, so my roommate and I have been going on super long walks around town, doing the body weight circuit a couple times a week, and I just started taking spin classes.

What are you most looking forward to for the return to campus?

I am honestly most excited for a return to campus and all it entails. It means I can go to the library and procrastinate, go to the Commons and make a 'swimmer circle' with the team, bug all the freshmen and see their dorms, go back to class in Boyer, etc. I just want to see people I go to school with again. I miss actually sitting in class and socializing with my friends before and after class.