Internship with Probation

My blog from July 2011 titled "Interviews" was about my interview experiences in finding an internship in Western NY. I decided to work with probation department since it would help me further in the career path of correctional services. I started my first day at probation in early September until November. Without regrets, the job with probation was the best experience I could asked for.

My mentor was a huge factor in me gaining this experience with probation. She is an amazing mentor because she stressed over me getting every possible experience of probation by learning about everything. She made sure that I didn't miss out on anything which I sure did learn a lot. Of the experiences that I gained from the internship at probation, my mentor inspired me to seek a full time job position as a probation officer in the area where I currently am living in.

What's irony about me actively seeking a probation officer position is the fact that before & even during my internship with probation, I didn't want to work for probation in the future. So I thought. I didn't realize that I'd be inspired and learning so much about probation department. This is what I want to do. It has both aspects of criminal justice and helping others. Probation officers are very under appreciated, but I saw the passion from some probation officers to continue helping others. That's what I plan to do. I know that I do have that same passion to help others, I always have. The internship helped me to see that even more.

It was very difficult for me to leave the internship because I gained so much confidence, knowledge & learning about myself and what probation was all about. I enjoyed the environment there, most people I came across were friendly, and I was very comfortable there. I would love to have a full time job at that specific probation department, but the man that I am in love with doesn't live in Western NY. I am glad to leave the state of New York knowing more about probation, and inspiring me to job hunt for that position. Even if I do not get a job with probation department, I still hope to return to that career at some point in my life.

Some of you may be wondering about communication during my internship. As I mentioned that the interview with the probation department was conducted via paper-and-pen method. I still use that method sometimes during my internship with co-workers. I also was able to lip read my mentor (only her, not other co-workers or probationers tho) without a problem. I also had interpreters that came in most of time. They interpreted for the meetings, lectures, etc. which helped me even more to not miss out on things. I am very grateful for the interpreters. I was surprised to find myself so comfortable in this environment as the only deaf person enough to want to work with the probation department for rest of my life. I am glad that I was that comfortable enough there which gives me hope to find that comfortableness again in my future job.