An Intern's Perspective
Internships are one way for students to gain hands on experience in the fields they are interested in. Our internship program offers high-school and college students a unique learning experience, tailored to both their class requirements as well as their own special interests. At Hands and Hearts, our internships can cover a range of topics; from a more behind-the-scenes look at non-profit administration, to stable and equine management, to what goes into being a therapeutic riding instructor. Ella, a senior in high-school, has been doing a more business administration type internship, where she has been getting a behind the scenes look at running a non-profit, with a special focus on marketing. I asked Ella if she would mind writing a piece on her perspective as an intern, and here’s what she had to say!
“My name is Ella and I decided to do my externship at Hands and Heart for Horses for my senior year of high school. Hands and Hearts is a therapeutic horse-riding center that focuses on teaching children with special needs and disabilities how to ride a horse. Therapeutic horse riding helps the students with independence, teamwork, physical and mental health as well as so much more. The environment at the farm is extremely friendly and welcoming to everyone and anyone and it is such a privilege to be a part of it. You need an environment like the one at Hands and Hearts to make any sort of business function. My schedule here is also very flexible, right now I am coming twice a week. It’s a team of everyone helping each other for the sake of the students and the horses. I want to study business marketing in college, so you may be wondering why I would chose Hands and Hearts to complete my externship? There are so many jobs, volunteer opportunities and something to help with constantly. With my time at Hands and Hearts, not only have I learned the ins and outs of a non-profit organization, I’ve gotten a lot of marketing and computer design skills that have really helped further my interest in marketing and design. I get to make advertisements and all sorts of posts for their Facebook and newsletter that has taught me computer and advertising skills. With them being a non-profit, they do rely on donations for a lot of their funding so it is crucial that they advertise their organization in a way that makes people want to help. They allow me to create just about anything for the Facebook page, just as long as it is relevant to the organization. I usually make posts about horse sponsorships, awareness days, holidays and fun facts about horses or therapeutic horse riding. I love getting to learn how to create different designs and brainstorming new ideas each week. I would highly recommend anyone to intern here because of all the opportunities and learning experiences that are available. If someone doesn’t have time or need of an internship, volunteering here is also a fantastic option I would also highly recommend. I am so grateful I found such a great place to intern for my senior year of high school and my time here will help me in my potential future career.”
A stable/property management internship over the summer means this intern got to have fun with the tractor!
Summer Camp, and this pre-vet equine management intern is teaching campers how to get the horses vital signs!