Psychology major makes personalized impact on children’s well-being

Julianna Fiori ’25, a psychology major and statistical and data sciences minor completing the public health pathway at The College of Wooster, realized her calling to make a direct impact on people’s lives while interning at The Bradley Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a student-athlete, Fiori engages in Cross Country and Health Coach Program, so the internship was a natural fit. Under the guidance of fellowship mentor, Erzsebet Regan, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, Fiori received supportive feedback on weekly reflections. During the internship, Fiori assisted staff in various psychotherapies to support children affected by trauma, mental illnesses, and behavioral challenges, which motivates her aspiration for a career emphasizing personal interactions.

“I realized that I greatly enjoy working with other people in a teamwork setting. I enjoy face-to-face communication, which some jobs no longer offer. I see this as something I need in a future career.”
—Julianna Fiori ’25

Q: How did you learn about the internship opportunity for your APEX Fellowship?

Fiori: I learned about the benefits of the APEX fellowship through my friend, Graham Harper ’24. He presented this as a good opportunity to explore my field of interest while being recognized for my hard work.

Q: What interests you most about the work you did?

Fiori: I really enjoyed how hands-on my experience was. I was able to do a lot with the children and learn more about the benefits of different psychotherapies in practice. Every day, I would help the kids with their morning routine, and then I would assist the employees in entertaining children with games, events, and therapy sessions to make the day go as smoothly as possible.

Q: Who was your fellowship mentor, and how did they help you to succeed in this position?

Fiori: My mentor was Dr. Regan. She was very helpful in the whole process and responded very quickly. I loved hearing her feedback on my weekly reflection essays because she was truly invested in what I was doing and how I was doing.

Q: What are some skills you’ve learned that you see yourself carrying forward in your career?

Fiori: I learned how to be resilient in difficult situations. I also participated in a week of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, which can be utilized in a future career.

Q: How has the internship helped you to see what’s next for you?

Fiori: This opportunity definitely aided me in deciding what I plan to do in my future career. I realized that I greatly enjoy working with other people in a teamwork setting. I enjoy face-to-face communication, which some jobs no longer offer. I see this as something I need in a future career. I also can see myself working for this company post-graduation.

Posted in Experiential Learning, Showcase Stories 2024 on August 10, 2024.