Last summer, I remember being overwhelmed about finding a hospital or clinic where I could volunteer and gain some clinical experience for nursing. Big hospitals such as Kaiser, Children’s Hospital and Alta Bates only take in a few applicants, mostly ones with experience already. After applying to all three hospitals, I remember going to the Teen Center to talk to Lynn seeking some advice. She told me that she knew a few people that would be willing to help. That same night I got an email from Lynn saying she spoke with Carol Brosgart (a BCF mentor, who is also a physician) and was able to reach out to someone who worked in the Lifelong Medical Clinic in Berkeley. From there, I was able to get in contact with them and forwarded my resume. No more than a week later, I was an intern for Lifelong Medical Care in Berkeley.
I didn’t know what to expect when I first entered the office. I was scared that I wouldn’t know what to do and that it would take me a long time to get the hang of things. When I first walked into the office, everyone was very welcoming. I was given my own work space and was put to work at once. Walter was one of the staff who walked me through everything. He taught me how to make phone calls to patients and other clinics to get information about med refills. I also helped design flyers that advertised reduced medicine costs for members of Lifelong Medical Care. I think the best part of volunteering at the office was knowing that I was giving back to my community. Lifelong Medical focuses on helping low-income families, especially undocumented individuals. My goal for that summer was to gain clinical experience, but I gained much more than that. Working with people who love their job made me realize how much I enjoyed it as well. It was a reminder of why I want to pursue a career in nursing which is to give back to a communities in need.
Internships are not only an ideal way to gain experience, they are also a way to build relationships with people you will soon work with for the rest of your life. It is a way to gain new skills and learn from others that are willing to help you. I am really thankful that Lifelong Medical Care took me in, knowing it is hard to gain clinical experience when one does not have any yet. This also would have not been possible without the Berkeley Community Fund connections. It is important to take advantage of the opportunities life gives us. We must build strong relationships with people which will later lead to having more connections with others.
