This week we sat down with Social Work Superstar Colleen Dusel to talk about her internship experience with Providence Public Schools, and the program she and her fellow intern have created to porvide translation services which have been needed by the community.
Name: Colleen Dusel
Year: 2017
Major: Social Work
Hometown: Ludlow, MA
Favorite Quote: “Be the change you wish to see in the world”
Spirit Animal: French Bull dog
What is your dream job? My dream job is to become a school social worker at a high school in an urban community.
What do you like to do in your free time? I like to hang out with my friends, dance, make laugh, and play with my dog, and when I’m feeling motivated I like to go to the gym.
Why did you choose your major? I knew I wanted to help people in some kind of way and in researching social work I found that you can do a lot with that degree and pursue many different career paths that would allow me to help people. I really enjoy working with people and learning about them and personal stories.
We know you have an internship at a local high school, can you tell us more about what you do there? I intern in the school social worker’s office, I see students individually and in groups who struggle with academic, social, and emotional issues. Such as, poverty, abuse, substance abuse, gang violence, learning disabilities, mood disorders, depression, anxiety, etc. I’m also in the process of creating an internship position for Providence College students within the high school.
What is the position you are creating? Nearly 90% of the school population come from Spanish speaking families, however the school cannot afford a fulltime interpreter, so many times families come in feeling intimidated or uncomfortable because they are unable to communicate with faculty. The internship is for volunteer interpreters, either Spanish Majors, or Native speakers who will receive academic or community service credit for their services. I feel that this program will create a bridge between Providence College and surrounding communities, and will also give members of the community a voice.
What is the most valuable experience you have had at your internship? It’s hard for me to pick one specific experience, but I think the most rewarding thing I’ve done at my internship is work with a refugee student from Africa. This student was the sole guardian of his two younger siblings, who were left orphaned when their parents were murdered by rebel forces. I helped advocate for him to be enrolled in the high school when the school department did not want to let him complete his education because of how his credits transferred. The school department wanted him to go to trade school, and he wanted to become a doctor. My supervisor and I advocated for him and the school department changed their minds. For me, this experience was inspiring to see someone so enthusiastic about education, which is often taken for granted by many. This has made me realize how grateful I should be for my liberties and how resilient people can be.
Is there anything else you would like our readers to know? I would like readers to know that I think society places greater importance on lucrative career paths such as business, law, or medicine, while these are all important fields there is a great need for other helping professions especially in the field of mental health. I would like society, as a whole, to care more for each other and be more understanding of everyone’s struggles, and see the dignity and worth of all human beings. #GoPats!