Name: Joan Do-Truong
Major(s): Educational Studies and Women & Gender Studies
Class Year: 2023
Organization Name: The City School
Intern Title: Staff Lead Facilitator
Describe your internship roles, responsibilities, and significant contributions.
Throughout my internship, I had the opportunity to prepare and teach a core curriculum to guide high school-aged students and adolescents through systemic issues, affinity groups, and pods. This was an incredibly eye-opening and enriching experience for me because I had the opportunity to work with students in a non-traditional setting who came from different backgrounds. In addition to teaching students, I also had the privilege to lead community conversations to build a multi-generational, multi-lingual, and multi-racial understanding of issues that affected Boston’s diverse neighborhoods, allowing not only the students to build community, but myself as well. I am so appreciative of the community that I have gained throughout my time at the City School, despite it being hybrid, the young people I worked with made my experience worthwhile.
How did your internship aid in your career exploration or decision-making?
I was able to connect with many people from different organizations and leaders in the community! I was able to meet and connect with Demita Washington who was involved with the Combahee River Collective. My internship also taught me a lot about problem-solving and also managing high school students in a program. Finally, working with this program allowed me to become more confident in my aspirations of becoming a future educator.
What advice do you have for future interns?
If you’re looking into education as a possible career field, come open-minded and be ready to take on risks and challenges.
Aside from your internship, are there other tools, resources or programs that have supported your career exploration?
I highly recommend the Knowlton Center and their Internship Stipend Program. Without them I wouldn’t have the resources I have today to support and work with non-profits in my neighborhood that did not have the capacity to fund/pay for my work.
