Internships and apprenticeships are a time-honored rite of passage in many industries. We’ve asked some brilliant folks to share some of the most important lessons they learned during these early experiences in their career.

Joanna Rajendran

I had the distinct honor of having modern-day Guru and master teacher Tao Porchon-Lynch as my personal mentor. Studying with the world’s oldest yoga teacher for over two decades influenced every aspect of my career and life. With her, I saw the world, got certified to teach yoga and meditation and was inspired to use continue in her path of spreading peace, power and possibility. Read more>>

Nicole Matlus

While attending the University of Akron, completing my Bachelor of Social Work degree, I took my internship position at The Community Assessment Treatment Center, also known as CATS. My department was working with men who were struggling with substance abuse, mental health, and criminal thinking. Most of the male clients were also learning and coping with prison transition back into society . What my clients did not understand was that as their counselor and social worker, they taught me so much more empathy and understanding. Perspective has been my biggest takeaway from the job that I do. You learn so much in this particular field. I am grateful for all the lives I have touched and the ones who touched mine Read more>>

Jessica Steinman

When someone gets a Masters Degree to be a therapist in California, they have to do 3000 clinical hours as an intern to build the skills and receive the training before becoming a Licensed therapist. For 2 years, I was an intern at an incredible organization called The Maple Counseling Center from 2013 to 2015. The Maple Counseling Center offers very low fee counseling for people who are unable to afford therapy and the interns providing that therapy get to receive excellent training from skilled and elite clinicians in the field. As an early therapist, I was struggling with a client and not finding a lot of empathy for him. Read more>>