The Gillen Brewer School

Volunteer Teaching Assistant

May 2019 • New York City, NY

What I liked

I enjoyed working with kids with learning disabilities, as I was once in their place as someone with learning disabilities. It was great interacting with them and seeing the genuine enjoyment so many of the kids I worked with (mostly ages 5-7). I also got to see some of the teachers that taught me when I was a student at the school, which was very nice.

What I wish was different

There wasn't much that I wish were different about my volunteer experience. It was very fulfilling and the experience was one I'll value well into the future. I may very well do it again next summer or some other summer depending on my schedule.

Advice

I think that doing work for an institution or other organization that has served you well in the past is a great way to strengthen and/or revitalise old connections in your career network, make new connections, and give back to an organization or institution that has given you something that you benefit from. In my case, The Gillen Brewer School helped me at a time when my learning disabilities were a lot worse than they are now and allowing me to find new ways in which to learn and cope with the challenges of life that are hard for anyone and especially those with any mental challenges.

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Student Teacher

May - July 2018 • New York City, NY

What I liked

I enjoyed working with the children and being in the environment of a special education school exposed me to many new career paths like occupational therapy.

What I wish was different

I wish that I had been more confident in my ability to succeed on my own.

Advice

My one pice of advice is to go into an experience like a summer job or internship with an open mind and be willing to explore different avenues. You might enter into the experiencing believing that you want to do one thing for a career or major in a certain subject and end up being exposed to something completely different that you fall in love with it.

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