Media Center (Blog)

Employers want job-ready graduates, but students need real-world practice to get there. Internships can be the key to building that experience, but without proper guidance, they can feel out of reach. That’s where LSU steps in.

Before traveling to Costa Rica as part of the internship program that was launched by the LSU Office of Global Engagement and in collaboration with AIFS Abroad, Makayla Christoffer thought she had a good understanding of what to expect from the experience. She imagined a vibrant culture, warm people, and beautiful nature. All of that turned out to be true, according to Makayla. What she did not expect was how much this experience would shift the way she viewed herself, others, and the world around her. Makayla shared with us that through her internship, daily life, and cultural immersions, she’s grown as a person, a leader, and a future professional in ways she will carry with her forever. Here is more about Makayla’s experience as an intern at Asertiva Wellness House in Costa Rica.

LSU professor Catherine Lemieux reflects on research showing how social work students impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita coped with trauma through volunteerism, faith, and resilience—lessons she now applies in the classroom and in the field.