A year ago I anxiously waited to hear back from the Donelan Office regarding my CBL intern decision. I was wracking my brain trying to remember my answers to each interview question, rereading my application, and checking my email every 5 minutes. At that point, all I could think about was how I wanted to help promote Community Based Learning on campus by sharing my positive experiences in a CBL seminar with other Holy Cross students. I knew that I would enjoy the role and that I would have fun interacting with CBL students; what I didn’t anticipate was how much I would grow throughout the year with the support and encouragement of the Donelan office staff and my fellow interns.
As a senior, I have engaged in a lot of self-reflection as graduation quickly approaches. What I have realized is that my favorite classes do not fall neatly into an academic discipline but that they span across nearly every department on campus. The common thread: they were all related to social justice. One of my favorite classes was Professor Susan Crawford Sullivan’s class, Sociology 361: Leadership, Religion, and Social Justice. It was this class that introduced me to CBL by enabling me to take on a leadership project in the community. It was also this class that inspired me to become an intern and eventually encouraged me to apply for a post-grad year of service in order to learn more about issues related to social justice. Therefore, upon reflecting on the past 3 ½ years at Holy Cross, I can honestly say that applying to be a CBL intern was one of the best decisions that I have made during my time on the Hill. I have grown as a leader by organizing and leading the Nonprofit Careers Conference as well as by working as the marketing intern for the office. Similarly, I have also learned how to be a better team player by being afforded opportunities to work with my fellow interns in order to continue to promote CBL on campus. However, the biggest reward that I have gained is without a doubt the incredible support network of the Donelan Office. Over the past year, Isabelle, Michelle, and the CBL interns have been both my biggest cheerleaders as well as my shoulder to cry on. Whether I am stressed and running on 2 hours of sleep because I have a paper due the next day or celebrating a job offer, the Donelan Office is always my first stop for support (after a call to my mother).
My biggest regret is that I did not apply to the position sooner. As a senior, I only had a year to get to know all of the incredible people in the Donelan Office and to make an impact in the Worcester community by engaging in CBL. Therefore, I encourage everyone to consider applying to become a CBL intern as a way to meet some of the most incredible and supportive people at Holy Cross. The Donelan Office not only shaped my time at Holy Cross but also my future plans. Therefore, if you need another thing to add to your Holy Cross bucket list before you graduate, applying to be a CBL intern should definitely be on your list.