Internship Spotlight: Destiny McFalls ’25
Destiny McFalls '25 helped draft an application for Carlisle Borough's designation as a Bird Town.
Carlisle Parks and Recreation
As part of her summer internship with Carlisle Parks and Recreation, Destiny McFalls '25 (Africana studies, educational studies) drafted a successful application for Carlisle Borough to be recognized as a Pennsylvania "Bird Town." Carlisle was awarded Bird Town status by the nonprofit Bird Town Pennsylvania, which works with Pennsylvania communities to promote conservation efforts to create a healthier, more sustainable environment for birds, wildlife and people.
Academic major:
Africana studies major, with a minor in educational studies.
Internship title:
Carlisle Parks and Rec summer intern.
How I got this internship:
I've worked for Carlisle Parks and Recreation for four years, starting at the Carlisle Community Pool as pool patrol and later moving to the Stuart Community Center as a center supervisor. This past year, I reached out to my supervisor about potential internship opportunities and was informed of a summer internship position. Given my previous experiences, I decided to apply, and I was offered the position.
What I did, day to day:
My internship was based at the Parks and Recreation office, at Carlisle Stuart Community Center. My responsibilities included answering phones, assisting community members with various needs, creating promotional flyers and supporting Andrea Crouse, the director of Carlisle Parks and Recreation, with additional projects.
For one project I assisted with, I joined the Carlisle Bird Town Committee and helped draft an application [to Bird Town Pennsylvania] for Carlisle to become an official Bird Town. The application was accepted, and Carlisle was recognized as the 64th Bird Town in Pennsylvania. Bird Town PA is an organization that works with local municipalities, such as Carlisle, to help raise awareness about bird conservation and promote sustainable practices.
How this internship helped me:
Although this internship wasn't directly related to my major at Dickinson, I gained valuable skills that will be beneficial as I assume the role of president of the Afro-Diasporic and Cultural Collective (ADCC) this year. Through my involvement with the Carlisle Bird Town committee, I learned how to schedule and organize meetings, create agendas and record notes to produce meeting minutes. These skills will be incredibly useful for organizing future ADCC executive and general meetings.
Other internship experiences:
I previously interned with the Central Pennsylvania Consortium, where I assisted in organizing archival materials for recordkeeping, and with the Department of Africana Studies at Dickinson, both as a research intern in the archives and as a student-intern handling administrative tasks. All of these internship experiences have been invaluable learning opportunities, and I look forward to continuing to learn and grow from similar experiences in the future.
Advice for students considering an internship:
The best advice I would give to peers considering an internship is to get out of your comfort zone. My internship at Carlisle Parks and Rec was quite different from internships I have had previously, but I was able to gain experience and learn new skills that I may not have had the opportunity to do and have, had I not challenged myself to try something different.
TAKE THE NEXT STEPS
Published September 11, 2024