SOAR365 Fall Respite & Day Services Intern
VCU senior Bonnie Smith is in the final stages of her undergraduate degree, pursuing a health sciences major and psychology minor. As a Richmond native, Bonnie has long been active in the local community, giving her time to a variety of organizations including CARITAS, Habitat for Humanity, Wounded Warriors, and the YMCA. But when the time came to choose an internship placement, she knew exactly where she wanted to be. “I knew [SOAR365] would be a great organization to intern with because my brother has been going there for several years and everyone is very supportive.”

The HPEX (Health, Physical Education, and Exercise) Internship is designed to provide students with practical experiences in the health sciences field, and Bonnie’s internship has been all that and more. “I’ve enjoyed working with the adults in the day support and weekend respite programs and helping them get closer to reaching their goals. I’ve had opportunities to help the adults with their day-to-day activities, community outings, and various activities such as nature walks, yoga, and sports like hockey, basketball, and volleyball. It’s been a great experience so far.”

When asked what she would tell other HPEX students considering an internship with SOAR365, Bonnie exclaimed, “I would tell them it’s a very great environment for an intern! So far I’ve met so many amazing people from different walks of life and everyone is just so supportive of one another. It’s such a fantastic organization!”