Jun 26 2008
The dreaded (albeit rewarding) internship
Finding an internship can be a challenging adventure in your Child Life journey. I have been hearing that from everyone since I decided I wanted to go into Child Life. Now that I have graduated, applied for a few internships and have been turned down, I can say with all honesty it is a rollercoaster. Despite that fact, you can’t let it get you down or get in your way. If Child Life is really something you want to do, you just have to accept your losses, learn from your mistakes, pick yourself up and try again. I think my biggest misstep was only applying to 3 internship programs when I should have applied to 20 or 30.
One of the most difficult aspects of the whole internship application process is deciding where you are going to apply. Many hospitals don’t accept independent interns (those student who have graduated and are no longer affiliated with a college). I’m going to start a database of internship sites because I feel it is something the Child Life community is in need of and will benefit many people. If you are a CCLS working in a Child Life Program that offers an internship, please let me know!
I love the database idea! I know that it would help me a ton! Such a great idea!
I LOVE that I have stumbled across this blog. I am in the process of looking at hospitals to apply for my child life internship. I graduated last May and did not realize I wanted to be a child life specialist until July. It has been frustrating trying to find hospitals that take graduated students without a school affiliation. The past few days though I have discovered many hospitals that do take students like me… you just really have to search. Basically I googled “children’s hospitals in_______”) and would look up various states. My original plan was only to apply at a few places but that has gone out the window since finding out most places only take 1-2 students. I’m hesitant to apply for an internship really far away though because of the hassle of trying to move. I don’t really know yet what I’ll do.. guess we’ll see. Thanks again for starting this! I look forward to more updates!
I am just starting out on my quest for an internship program. I feel a little behind in the game though. I graduated with my Child Development degree about 4 years ago, and have only recently decided to pursue the Child Life Specialist profession. Anybody have any advice, or know which hospitals will take an intern who is not in college anymore? I ordered the program directory book from the Child Life Council, and it has made things a bit more organized. I am also curious as to what they are looking for in an applicant. Anybody with any information would be a great help. Thanks!!
I am so glad that I came across this blog and am finding other people who are in the same place I am! I graduated with my Masters in Family Studies two years ago and only discovered the Child Life profession as I was graduating. I quit my job last July (I know, I know) because I want to pursue a career in child life because of my passion for helping ill children and their families, and I continue to learn how difficult it is to take this path in such an unorthodox manner. I suppose for those of us not in programs we will just have to hope that hospitals see something in us that makes them want to give us a chance to see what we are made of…good luck to everyone, and I will be looking out for the database of internship sites, that would be amazing! I am a member of the Child Life Council, but I have not had much luck finding info on there!