Alex shares his experience as a virtual intern at Insight.

Virtual Internship? Of course!

Insight is very grateful to work with fantastic student volunteers and interns. We know that they teach us just as much as we’re able to impart during their time with us! Hear a little more from one of our recent virtual interns about his experience!

Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Alexander Ramirez and I work with Insight Memory Care Center (IMCC) as a Virtual Social Work Intern.

I originally began working with IMCC facilitating TimeSlips creative storytelling sessions through a class I was taking at George Mason University. Over the span of a few months, I met many participants and staff members and began to witness the strong sense of community that makes IMCC so special. As my time as a TimeSlips facilitator came to an end, I asked if it was possible for me to stay and from there, we created a position that allowed me to stay involved and participate in Insight at Home. Getting to form strong connection with participants and having the autonomy to develop creative programming that benefited them motivated me to continue my work with IMCC. And I’m thankful that they let me stay!

What has your experience been like?
As each month goes by, I find myself continuing to learn more about memory impairment as well as the unique experiences of families and caregivers as they navigate a new situation. Getting to meet caregivers and learn more about their loved ones has been one of the most impactful part of my experience with IMCC. Everything we do is centered around our participants and by getting to learn more about their past and interests, I can create activities that bring them joy. Knowing that I was able to brighten someone’s day and make them feel included and understood shows how impactful programming at the IMCC can be.

What was the most surprising thing about working at Insight?
The most surprising thing about working with IMCC was how involved I could be in the organization while remaining completely virtual. Even from home, I’ve been given the opportunity to engage with 10 incredible IMCC program participants and further develop my skills as an emerging social worker with the support of their staff.

Do you have a favorite story to share?
A moment that I cherish from my time with IMCC was getting to lead the Insight at Home group for the first time. I felt like I had finally become a part of the community that IMCC works so hard to create and I was able to make an observable impact while exploring the social work profession. As I prepare to graduate in a few years, I will look back on my time with IMCC as a transformative experience that gave me the space to create and change lives.

Want to volunteer or intern at Insight? Take a look at current opportunities!