A Summer that Shaped My Future by Chloe

A Summer that Shaped My Future by Chloe - February 2025 Scholarship Essay

This past summer I spent eight weeks interning as a social worker. This transformative experience began by pushing myself out of my comfort zone when I contacted Knoxville Leadership Foundation (KLF) to ask if they accepted high school students to intern with their organization. However, upon hearing my passion for social work, they opened their doors so that I could experience life as a social worker. KLF has multiple initiatives within the organization, allowing me three different experiences over the summer. Going into this internship, I was nervous because there was no one else my age at KLF and I had no idea what I was walking into. What I did not expect, though, was to learn just as much about the community around me as I learned about the field of social work.
I spent my first two weeks with a program called Amachi, where adults volunteer to mentor children whose parents are incarcerated. I was able to meet some of the families who were a part of this program and while I brought the kids backpacks for the upcoming school year, I was also able to sit down with them and discuss their lives. I also sat in on interviews of new mentors and went through training alongside them. During the training, I learned through videos, reading, and presentations the importance of mentoring for children and teens. I realized how easy it is to be sheltered, especially after growing up in a private school. So many children just in my own community are going through unimaginable situations and need others to walk beside them and mentor them. The time I spent with Amachi both grew and broke my heart, as it allowed me to put faces with names of kids, many the same age as myself, who are going through the unthinkable.
The next two weeks at KLF were spent at the Resource Center, which provides for the urgent needs of families. This was the most hands-on experience throughout the summer, as I got to do house visits and meet the families being served. No matter how many stories I heard about poverty or unfortunate circumstances, it was not until I was able to see it firsthand that the true extent of it sunk in. Many of the families did not have jobs, while others were barely living paycheck to paycheck. Realizing the reality of this broke my heart. I felt as though the children involved in this program found me approachable and felt more comfortable talking to me as opposed to an adult. Getting to develop personal relationships with both these kids opened my eyes to see that so many people around me are experiencing poverty and circumstances that are hard to even fathom. It gave me a deeper desire to help those in need and find ways out of their obstacles.
I concluded my internship at Compassion Coalition, where we answered phone calls to assist people with basic needs such as food, water, electricity, etc. Whenever the calls came in, I would write a summary and organize them by urgency level. I would help to call the people and find ways to support them through their needs. Over the eight weeks, my eyes and heart were open to the needs around my community, and even throughout the world.
I went into my internship scared of how a high schooler could fulfill such a complex role that is needed to be a social worker. However, while I walked away heartbroken by people's stories, I was inspired by their hard work to overcome such difficult obstacles. My desire to reach out and help others only grew and emphasized my love to reach out a hand to help those who need it. I learned that no matter your age or experience level, many times people just need someone to come alongside them and believe in them as they navigate life. I used to take for granted all that I had, but after seeing the battles so many people are facing, I now have an entirely new perspective. I realized that it does not take a large act to change the world, but instead you can change someone’s life through just a small interaction.