Cabrillo College Student Health Services, Community Health Worker Certificate and AS in Health Sciences

"Having my first opportunity in a health environment opened my heart more to be in the field and it feels great to know I went into a field where I can help people in all different ways from housing to mental health to front desk navigator and so much more with the knowledge that I have gained from Cabrillo's CHW & Health Sciences.

I am able to communicate so much better now that I gained knowledge to build my confidence. I am able to identify needs and assist individuals in multiple areas of health care."

The Farm Bakery, Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management

"At the Farm Bakery I proved that I do have the work ethic needed and this experience only encourages me to seek more experience. I set a goal on building my awareness in terms of how long it takes to finish tasks and improve my communication skills on the line, and I believe that I have improved significantly but will continue to try to be better. It will definitely be helpful in the future seeking other employment opportunities as before I was seen as a nobody with no experience. I Will continue to have patience and be hopeful that soon I will be able to work in an area that I'm passionate about."

Encompass Community Services -Adult Residential Facility Casa Pacific

"I am proud to be able to provide support to Casa Pacific residents and being able to help them advocate for their medical /psychiatric needs. My current job experience and courses have motivated me to apply for Master's in Social Work. My passion for helping others grew during this semester. My current job experience internship involves promoting health equity, housing navigation, case management for our residents to integrate back into the community and have a successful life. I learned in my current job experience that Adults with mental health disorders should always be provided with not one but several opportunities to change, we need to remember that not everyone is ready to make a change in their own life. Being part of the Community Health Worker Apprenticeship Program has motivated me to consider applying for a Master's of Social Work, to continue to support my community. "

Cabrillo College Human Resources, Business Administration Associate of Science

"During my internship this semester, I am most proud of the opportunity to work alongside knowledgeable professionals in the field of Human Resources. This experience has given me a unique peek into the daily workings of an HR department, where I gained insight into the many specialized roles within the field. What stood out to me was how each HR specialty, whether it was recruiting, training, or employee relations, contributed to a holistic approach to managing an organization’s workforce.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the internship was assisting with the hiring process. Helping to streamline the process and seeing how crucial it is to find the right fit for a position was eye-opening. I also really appreciated being involved in tasks that directly impacted people’s lives, like assisting potential candidates through their applications or helping current employees with questions about benefits or company policies.

It was particularly fulfilling to know that my contributions played a part in shaping the HR function at Cabrillo College, even in a small way. Overall, learning from each specialist, taking on different tasks, and seeing the tangible impact of HR work on people made this experience truly valuable. The skills I’ve gained have given me a clearer perspective on the importance of HR in any organization. My internship this semester has helped me see the bigger picture when it comes to my career goals. Working in HR has given me a clearer understanding of what the field involves daily, and it has sparked a genuine interest in pursuing this path further. "

Cabrillo College CTC, IT Associate of Science

"I spent roughly half the semester working on System Administration level work. It has informed me on the type of environment I would like to work in, one that values learning and growth. It paves the way for women in leadership roles in the IT world. It provided me with a chance for self-exploration and putting myself outside of my comfort zone with the support and positivity I needed.

I plan on staying at my current internship while I work on pursuing my Bachelor's degree. I'm going to continue on developing my professional communication and management skills by taking on some new tasks at work, like training new hires. I'll also be working on various projects that will use my skills from CIS classes."

El Dorado Center, Encompass Community Services, Community Health Worker Certificate

"My experience at work has solidified that I would like to be a therapist some day. My workplace has given me the experience needed to apply for an MSW. I have been employed at my workplace for approximately two years. I have submitted my first application for grad school and am pursuing an MSW. If I were to do anything differently it would have been to give myself grace while at the workplace. I tend to hold myself to an unrealistic standard. Moving forward I will continue to refine my group facilitation skills and pursue higher education."

Cabrillo College Geography Dept., Sociology Associates Degree

"I am most proud of collaborating professionally with my professor. My experience working for Professor Scholar in the Geography Dept. fortified my love for helping people. I really enjoy being involved in community. Professor Deirdre Scholar and I worked together to create a foundation for virtual field trips in her Geography classes using a webpage creator called Story Maps. These virtual field trips will improve the accessibility of future classes, allowing students with limited physical abilities to participate in field trips."

Central Coast Wilds, Horticulture Internship

"There are multiple accomplishments that I feel most proud of this semester. The first one was that I was asked to stay on and become a full time employee after the propagation season ended. The other accomplishments range from being asked to do more important tasks, such as seed collecting, seed sowing, and helping with customers. I feel like I am finally headed in a direction that I am proud of. There is so much to learn, I don't know how anyone could get bored in this field. There is also a lot of room for growth, especially if I learn more about plants and the industry, which I strive to do. I realized that learning about plants is for everyone.

I decided to try a career change and it actually worked! I visited Central Coast Wilds nursery last year and knew I wanted to work there someday. I knew I needed to take the Work Experience class in order to receive a certificate so I applied to work there. They were excited to help me with the class. Now I am working full time and loving it. I plan on staying at Central Coast Wilds for as long as I can. I love native plants and there will always be more to learn. I would eventually like to do more landscape design and coordinate plant layout plans."

Cabrillo College Music Department, Music Technology Associate of Science

"As someone who has wanted to work in a recording studio environment since I was 16, the hands-on opportunity gave me more experience that future employers will take note of. Knowing how to care for and maintain the studio environment are indispensable skills. As one of the first students to TA for the Music department, I hope that the contributions I made will encourage the college to continue to fund this program. Being able to help with the maintaining of our various studios will be very attractive to future employers. Our diverse resources in the MTRA Program allowed me rare opportunities to experience different recording studio environments. This opens up new pathways to different careers, that I may not have had before. It reinvigorated me and solidified my decision to pursue this career path. I plan on continuing my education through Cabrillo College, and after graduation hopefully start my own audio production business. I have also been offered the opportunity to come back for the TA position in Spring 2025. "

All Earth Engineering, Engineering Associate of Science

"I’m proud of improving my communication, my professional network, and expanding my scope of knowledge. This internship experience has provided information that has advanced my plans for academia. Specifically on what skills would provide the best support for an employer within the industry. I’ve informed other veteran students at Cabrillo about the opportunity to receive credit for an internship. I currently work full-time now as a grounds man at Davey tree, my plan is to move up and become an apprentice climber in the next year."

Salud Para La Gente, Community Health Worker Certificate

Internships often provide access to professional networks and job opportunities that are typically not accessible to individuals from underrepresented communities. By gaining access to these networks more people from diverse backgrounds have opportunities to enter and succeed in their chosen field. My plans are to stay with SPLG. I’ve realized that I need more experience in data analysis. I plan to take a few online courses to strengthen these skills .I gained practical experience and learn new skills that are valuable to build my communication and listening skills and to be adaptable in the workplace, view challenges and setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow, rather than as failures.

Sleep Health MD, Business Associate of Science

"My internship was truly eye-opening! After this semester, I realized that I enjoy working in the healthcare field and want to continue pursuing this path. If it hadn't been for this internship, I might not have considered this career. I finished my training as Day Tech Assistant and was offered the opportunity to work with the Medical Records Department as well. The internship experience was incredibly valuable in revealing opportunities in the health field that I had not previously considered. I didn't realize there were positions related to my major in business that might interest me. It's amazing to see that the range of available opportunities is much broader than I imagined.

Additionally, I learned how to work effectively within a team, communicate my ideas efficiently, and remain composed in stressful situations, which allows me to be helpful and solve problems. These skills will benefit me not only at Sleep Health MD but also in future positions and in my personal life."

Cruzin Cob Global, Liberal Arts Associate of Science

"This experience has taught me that I can live and work in community and has greatened my passion to do so. I think all of the participants had similar aspirations to have their own builds with the help of this community we created. I'm not positive that I will go into a career field like this, but this project has helped me discover my want to work in community. Next I am going back to school full time and taking a backseat on working. I will be finishing up my communications degree and possibly continuing onto another. I hope to work a project similar to this again. I greatly improved my communication skills here. It is practically impossible not to when you are living with twelve people for five weeks.

I also think it is fair to say my confidence after this project has grown tenfold. I have added to my resume my project over the summer including details on my communication skills gained from the experience as well as physical skills. I think overall I did great with my goals. I even reached some goals I hadn't set! I will continue to put myself in positions that will help me improve my communication skills and confidence in myself. So far to continue embracing my confidence I have started going to the gym which I previously had zero interest in."

Indexical - Experimental Music Venue, Music Technology Associate of Science

"The accomplishments I am most proud of from my internship this semester include successfully mixing and mastering multiple experimental music pieces, which I can now showcase in my professional portfolio. I also built valuable relationships and connections with artists and industry professionals, expanding my network within the experimental music community. Additionally, I started a website and began developing an Instagram profile to highlight my work in audio production. I also initiated mentor relationships that continue to support my growth as a sound engineer. My internship experience this semester has reinforced my values of creativity, collaboration, and resilience while shaping my goals for the future.

Working in experimental music and avant-garde audio production highlighted the importance of perseverance through challenges while adapting to unconventional approaches. It also emphasized the value of building connections within the industry and continuously refining my technical and creative skills. This experience solidified my aspiration to pursue a career in sound engineering, with a focus on innovative audio production. My internship has helped pave the way for others by contributing to a culture of equity, inclusion, and accessibility within the experimental music community. Indexical’s commitment to diverse artists and audiences provided a platform to collaborate with individuals of various ethnicities, genders, and orientations, promoting an inclusive environment. By working in this space and showcasing my journey through this exercise, I hope to perhaps inspire others from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in sound engineering and experimental music."