Renata, one of our current MSW interns, was recently featured in the 2025 Impact Report. Below, she reflects in her own words on her experience as an intern at Anchor House:
I am a second-year graduate student at the Columbia School of Social Work. I am a non-traditional student coming back to school in my early fifties. I have spent a good deal of time being challenged by a disability. In the recent past, my health has improved significantly, which is my reason for returning to academia. I am working with the NJ Department of Vocational Rehabilitation to gain employment that is favorable to my status as a disabled American. I foresee myself as being able to return to full-time work within the next year. School has provided a great opportunity for healing and growth into greater responsibility and citizenship.
I began my second-year internship at Anchor House in September of 2025. I had actually hoped to intern with the organization in my first year, but the available positions were full. I waited a year and got my long-anticipated placement. I love being a part of the Anchor House team! I especially appreciate that the mission of the organization is for youth to not only succeed but also to THRIVE! Being an abused or at-risk youth is a significant hardship no young person should have to endure. Despite an unfair start in life, children have the ability to mature into happy, competent adults. This growth can take place more readily when the adults around them truly care about and believe in them. This is what I hope to help facilitate during my time at Anchor House.
In my personal life, I enjoy a variety of arts and crafts. As an intern, I have focused on doing creative projects with the kids. Together, we have made Halloween decorations, holiday cards for the elderly, friendship bracelets, and a host of paintings. I have been working on a painting of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. I appreciate this opportunity to study the guidelines in the Convention. One of our projects was to make tie-dye t-shirts (see the before and after photos above). I had never done this before, and neither had the youth. Like my time thus far at Anchor House, it was a rewarding opportunity!
Interested in becoming an intern? Learn more on our Internship page.
