Working with Dr. Mayra Rodríguez González on developing programming for Latino Conservation Week has been the opportunity of a lifetime! The impact I have seen the program create and the outreach we have been able to provide has been incredible, truly a showcase of the impact of inclusivity in environmental outreach. We commonly reach communities that have been traditionally cut off from opportunities to learn about environmental topics by issues as simple as a language barrier.

Through this internship, I have been able to utilize my Spanish speaking skills to communicate with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and build my networking skills, not only in English, but in Spanish as well. A lot of my work has been centered around translating factsheets and media posts to help connect the Spanish speaking community to events in their areas.

My future plans include pursuing a law degree. This internship has helped me to narrow down which fields I am most interested in. I look forward to learning more about environmental law and its intersections with social justice issues. Thanks to Dr.Rodríguez's support, I am eager to see where the rest of my internship will lead!

One of my favorite programs through this internship was when I helped teach and prepare lessons with the Norwalk Health Department at the Growing Gardens, Growing Health which is at Fodor Farm in Norwalk. We provide eight different classes during this program. I led a youth group and taught them about the negative effects of sugary drinks and better alternatives for healthy beverages. I presented physical demonstrations of how much sugar is in some sodas and the participants were shocked. I also showed them how to read serving sizes as well as sugar in grams. In fact, yesterday when I was teaching one of these programs, a young child told me how much sugar was in her drink and she told me whether it was healthy or not. This gave me a sense of pride and happiness in both my students and in myself. I was glad to see that they were taking my lessons and applying them to their lives!

I have always been interested in the concept of healthy living and hope to make a meaningful change in this space while educating others on how to live their ideal, healthy, and happy lives. This internship has given me a platform to channel my personal interest into an educational program specifically designed for youth.

Not only was I excited about contributing to the healthy living aspect of 4-H workshops, but I also wanted to learn more about 4-H. I have enjoyed learning about the program and meeting the youth and families involved in 4-H. It is clear how passionate they are about what they do, and the positive impact this program has on their lives.

In this internship, I have had the opportunity to take an active role in promoting healthy living. I plan on running a plant potting booth at the fair, and handing out seeds to families so they can grow their own fruits and vegetables at home! Additionally, I will be organizing and hosting an open house event alongside the intern from New Haven County, where we will give those interested in 4-H a “backstage tour” to introduce them to the program firsthand and answer any questions they may have. I have also been able to increase outreach for 4-H through flyers, and soon at farmer’s markets & local libraries with engaging activities. This internship has allowed me to build new skills such as marketing, leadership, and communication which I am grateful for. 

It has been a pleasure working alongside the parents, youth, volunteers, and staff within UConn Extension’s 4-H program. I look forward to seeing all their hard work showcased at the fair this summer!

Throughout this summer I have the opportunity to learn about the various camps, fair activities and programs that take place throughout UConn Hartford County 4-H. Learning about the differences and similarities between county programs and helping in creating forms, input data and understanding data are just a few of the many jobs and opportunities I have.

One of my largest tasks for the summer is working with a local youth program and providing 4-H education in the areas of healthy living, STEM, and agriculture. This programming will help students discover the 4-H program and the opportunities within it.

I am interested in pursuing a career in agricultural education so this internship is a great opportunity to impact 4-H youth and get a behind the scenes view on what is required in the job. I cannot wait to see what else I can get done through this internship!

Throughout the summer, I am given opportunities to explore my creativity but also improve upon skills that I would need post graduation. I have contributed on a variety of activities, ranging from assembling kits to coming up with my own activity that I’d like to share with the students. As someone who knew nothing about the 4-H program when I first started, I have been taught their principles and goals, and learned how much care goes into this program.

I am interested in going into perfusion school and the attention to detail that I have to put to practice at this internship supports that.

One of the best parts of working at this internship is the people I work with. My supervisors are extremely supportive and I look forward to learning more as the summer continues.

Read more about Abby's internship on UConn Today.