Emily, Psychology ’27

Emily

Major

Psychology

Spring 2026 Internship

Youth Mental Health Corps Navigator with AmeriCorps 4-H Outreach

How did you find out about the internship? What did the process look like from applying, interviewing, etc.?

“My employers, Teri and Staci, visited one of my HDFS classes, and presented on the Iowa AmeriCorps 4-H program. They discussed the Youth Mental Health Corps, which is the program that I’m involved with now.”

What advice do you have for fellow students regarding internship/job searches?

“I’ve heard that employers at the People to People Career Fair really value volunteer experience, especially for psychology or HDFS majors. I’d recommend to all students, if you’re having trouble securing an internship, try volunteering! Employers really value seeing that experience on your resume and your passion. They want to know that you’re really interested in human services, even if you’re not getting paid for it. Volunteering is a really great way to do that because there are so many ways to get involved.”

What advice do you have for students seeking work experience in their field of study?

“The worst thing that people can say is ‘no’ [and] the important part is to persevere and use each experience to get feedback on what you can do to improve. Having a growth mindset is really important. I’ve never been interviewed by anyone who was mean or not helpful in some capacity.”

How has the internship helped you prepare for your next career steps?

“I’ve done a lot of networking while serving as a member with AmeriCorps 4-H. A big part of what I do is outreach. As a result, I have a lot of connections on the ISU campus and in the Ames community. Another perk of my position is that I get a personalized career coach, a program that is  completely free to me. My career coach works for the Youth Mental Health Corps on a national level. They’ll call me every once in a while, to discuss career and academic goals. Another perk of the program is free professional development training. I’m currently doing a Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT) training program, which includes a certificate upon completion, which is widely known amongst psychology professionals!”

“For the longest time, I was looking into marriage and family therapy, which requires graduate school, at least a master’s degree.  I’m also interested in teaching. I really like helping people and giving them advice. I haven’t yet settled on a career path just yet!” 

Have you taken or are you currently enrolled in LAS 2030, the LAS Professional Career Preparation Course? If yes, how did this course help you?

“I enjoyed practicing interviews in LAS 2030. It helped me prepare for one-on-one interviews and/or chats employers. In general, LAS 2030 helped me to bolster my public speaking, interviewing, and marketing skills. It helped a lot! I also remember my freshman year going to the career fair, and I was so nervous. However, I’ve gone every semester since, and it’s been great practice. My best tip would be to research employers before you go and recognize that the employers are just normal people; they’re not scary!”