Professional Documents
Culture Documents
EXPL 390
4/25/18
Final Reflection
One year ago, I was very unaware of the potential impact of the Social Justice
Internship Program at Loyola and the joys and challenges that would stem from
both the internship and the class portions of the program. I applied to the program
and that would provide me with beneficial experience for a future career as a health
care professional. In retrospect, I can positively say the Social Justice Internship
The course elements of the program – both class and assignments – helped
me take the time to reflect and encouraged me to apply and connect my internship
experiences to everyday life and my knowledge of the world around me. Through
leadership and the specific role of Misericordia within the Chicago community, as
well as my role as an intern in that space. One of the most effective and enjoyable
until one has established roots, knowledge, and resources in a community, but I
think creating the maps was still an incredibly helpful way to shift my focus from
experience and served as resources for learning more about leadership, justice, and
being an advocate. I also learned from the thoughts and experiences of the cohort of
Social Justice Interns. While my role as the Fitness and Aquatics Intern at
Misericordia was very hands-on, many of the other internship positions were
behind the scenes or more administrative. I think it was beneficial to learn about
listening and learning from diverse life experiences when discussing social justice in
class.
The classroom portion of the Social Justice Internship program also enabled
service with the residents there, our class conversations, readings, and assignments
its existence. While I have not learned as much as I would like to (yet) about the
policy, law, and governmental funding aspects of rights for those with disabilities, I
was exposed to many of the health and health-care related injustices faced by
The internship aspect of the program – my role as the Fitness and Aquatics
Intern at Misericordia – was incredibly rewarding. Not only have I been able to gain
those with disabilities, and community development, but also about my own
worked with people with disabilities before, being an intern at Misericordia gave me
for the residents, encouraged goal setting and achieving, created engaging activities
relationships I have built with the residents and all I have learned from
Misericordia, there were many days that were frustrating, disheartening, or simply
testing of my patience. The uncertain and gossipy nature of the fitness department
was challenging not only because I do not personally function well in those
hearing things from both leadership and other staff, while really just trying to focus
on the residents. Despite these challenges, the work, knowledge and growth that
have come out of eight months at Misericordia has been wonderful. Part of
the Fitness and Aquatics intern, I have learned to embody those same desires of
Revisited. I considered not reading it again, but I am very glad I did. Not only is it
rewarding to reflect on how I’ve grown into this role as a better student and learner,
but I also feel more capable of continued growth as a new professional. The idea of A
accountability. I think that programs like the Social Justice Internship program
encourages these ways of thinking and interacting with the world, but it is not
enough just to do that and be that in one space. Although there are both societal and
been a beneficial part of the Social Justice Internship program in that there are
tangible ways in which I have accomplished them but also continued room for
Misericordia, I will gain insight into creating better adaptive fitness routines. I have
been able to independently run the fitness room at Misericordia (a bit out of
necessity because they are understaffed, but still!), completing specific workouts
and Home Exercise Programs with the residents based on their individual needs. My
resources and opportunities for people with disabilities. A final project I am working
community (abilities of residents, knowledge of staff, etc.). I have created posters for
each weight machine, with pictures of residents doing the exercise with correct
form and a corresponding description of the how to complete the exercise. I am also
creating posters with some basic sign language, including numbers and frequent
phrases used in the weight room. Our work and conversations in class on Asset-
Based Community Development inspired this project and its construction. My last
with both the staff and residents. Looking back and thinking about the last eight
months, I have not only developed relationships with staff, volunteers, and residents
at Misericordia, but have taken initiative both in the fitness room and in
Loyola from being abroad and will (hopefully) assist in the transition from Loyola to
the post-graduate world. Having studied abroad in South Africa last spring, I had
many questions, concerns, and doubts about the world after being so proximate to
intense injustice while living in Cape Town. I was struggling to put my emotions into
constructive action, and could not seem to address the seeming insignificance of
those feelings and experiences. However, the Social Justice Internship gave me the
place and space to reflect on those feelings and experiences, and provided both the
resources and inspiration from others to encourage action not in spite of injustice
but because of it. The Social Justice Internship program has been a constructive and
productive way of learning about injustices on paper, but also working to address
those through physical action in the internship environment. I have learned that this
is an incredibly valuable way of living, and I hope to continue seeking spaces where I
will be pushed to grow and challenged to consider other views but also supported
Being a part of the Social Justice Internship program and being placed in the
Moore Fitness and Aquatic Center at Misericordia has been an integral aspect of my
specifically for people with disabilities. When I first learned of my acceptance into
the Social Justice Internship Program, I was nervous about my integration into a
new community and what the role of an intern might look like. As I reflect now, it is
clear to see the growth that each challenge brought with it. This internship
experience has given me not only the tools to be successful, but also the space to
graduate service working with people with disabilities, I am hopeful that these
change.