The Fairfield Dolan Social Impact Internship Program was established in 2020 to connect students seeking valuable internship experience with local businesses in need of assistance.
Last semester three Dolan students participated in the Fairfield Dolan Social Impact Internship Program. Established in 2020, the program aims to connect students seeking valuable internship experiences with local businesses in need of assistance. Three students participated in the program this past spring as a way to make an impact in communities surrounding Fairfield. Ramsha Asad ’23 and Nicole Potel ’22 worked with local high school students and taught personal finance through Junior Achievement curriculum, and Michelle Titone ’23 assisted with marketing for Ice Skating for Everyone in New Canaan, Conn.
Junior Achievement is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to providing programming to students in grades K-12 that focus on financial literacy, work and career readiness, and entrepreneurship. Lessons focus on areas such as soft skills that relate to job skills and real-world experiences so students are prepared for their future careers.
“I went to various high schools around Fairfield where I taught personal finance curriculum,” said Asad. “The most enjoyable part about the program was interacting with the high schoolers. They were of all ages, first-year students, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. It was fun to hold discussions with them and ask them to provide their opinions.”
“I was very grateful to work for such an amazing program with motivated students,” said Potel. “I worked at Central High School in Bridgeport, Conn. with students who attended Fairchild Wheeler Magnet School. Each cohort met twice a week and I provided support to the instructor as well as individualized support for the students. We had a very engaging group of students and I was able to further help them understand the material through my academic experiences at Fairfield as well as my professional experiences. Much of the coursework is very high level and they were all so eager to learn and apply the concepts to the business plans they developed. This experience meant a lot to me because even in the smallest of ways, I was able to make an impact on their futures.”
Ice Skating for Everyone was founded in 2019 through the efforts of Emily Kelting, a former professional figure skater, with the New Canaan Mother Puckers, and a skating instructor at the New Canaan Winter Club. The goal of the organization is to give children who do not have access to figure skating the opportunity to learn how to skate.
“I believe the Social Impact Internship Program is a great resource for Fairfield students who want to spend their time with a cause that they are passionate about,” said Titone. “The founder of the organization, Emily Kelting, was my advisor during the internship and I assisted with updating Constant Contact, working on newsletters, making social media posts, and updating the organization's website, among other responsibilities. It was a very meaningful position for me because I felt that the organization I worked with was helping children in the community build confidence, learn new skills, form friendships, and form bonds with trusted adults.”
To learn more about the Fairfield Dolan Social Impact Internship Program contact the Dolan Career Development Center.
