July 30, 2024
For many of our Scholarship Recipients, learning doesn’t end on summer break. We talked with some recipients about what they’ve been up to this summer, what they’ve learned and how Meeting Street Scholarship Fund has been a part of that experience.
This is the second story in a three-part series. To read the second installment, which included profiles on Scholarship recipients Aaron Gillam, Kaleellah El-Amin, Lilah Urbina-Rodriguez and John Singletary, click here.
To read the third installment, which included profiles on Scholarship recipients on Gabriel Hosey, Millie Rice, Brooke Jewell, Farrah El Kachbendi and Tiffany Hammond, click here.
VIVIANA THOMPSON, orientation intern at the College of Charleston
What’s your post-college professional aspiration? I really want to be an international ambassador. I want to travel the world and meet all sorts of people of different cultures.
What has your internship involved? I work with new students during their orientation, so I guide them through the process of becoming a new student. I share all the programs, clubs and opportunities that we have at the College. I also work with parents during orientation, trying to give them peace of mind that their students will love our campus along with all the programs we have.
What’s been the most memorable part of this experience? The most memorable part for me would be students remembering my name and face and feeling comfortable to come with me with their questions. I asked one student if they wanted a handheld fan because it was really hot outside and they said, ”yes.” Throughout that day, we would have short but nice conversations. It felt really great to be reliable.
How has the Meeting Street Scholarship made this experience possible for you? Or how has the Meeting Street Scholarship contributed to this experience?
The Meeting Street Scholarship Fund has helped make it possible for me to grow and thrive at the College overall. I’m very thankful for the scholarship. Whenever I hear a student talking about college, I always mention the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund and try to see if they’re eligible so they could possibly benefit from it, too!
INDIA JACKSON, social media consultant & criminal law clerk at WV Barr Law LLC in Kingstree, SC
What’s your post-college professional aspiration? I would like to become a lawyer then join the FBI. I’ve always been very into crime investigation through television series, particularly CSI and Criminal Minds. I get very excited about solving cases, making some difference in the legal system.
What has this job involved? I work as a criminal law clerk and social media consultant at WV Barr Law LLC, where I assist with legal research, preparation of cases and client communication. This position has provided experience in criminal proceedings and allowed me to express my talents in working with social media.
What’s been the most memorable part of this experience? I find that what has been most memorable for me in this experience is the amount of real-time exposure to the practical side of legal practice that has been offered. From client interaction to working with actual cases, they have hugely enriched my knowledge of the law and further strengthened my passion regarding my choice of future career.
How has the Meeting Street Scholarship made this experience possible for you? The Meeting Street Scholarship has been crucial in facilitating this opportunity. It has taken much of the financial burden off my back, so that now I am able to focus on studying and professional development without fears of tuition constantly looming over me. In this regard, such support has enabled me to take advantage of opportunities as currently offered by the WV Barr Law LLC role, furthering my career in the legal world and a career with the FBI.
DIEGO RODRIGUEZ, camp counselor at the Kids On Point in Downtown Charleston
What’s your post-college professional aspiration? My post-college professional aspiration is to become an elementary school teacher.
What has this job involved? This job involves co-leading a kindergarten classroom. It includes leading and implementing academic curriculum, going on field trips and facilitating brain breaks.
What’s been the most memorable part of this experience? The most memorable part of this experience has been developing positive relationships with the students and staff. I will be leaving the summer with relationships and memories that will last a lifetime while also gaining new tools for my future teacher toolkit!
How has the Meeting Street Scholarship made this experience possible for you? The Meeting Street Scholarship has equipped me with tools and experiences to practice confidence and public speaking, which are necessary as a future educator. I got that experience as a co-leader of a breakout session for incoming Winthrop University freshmen at this year’s Meeting Street Scholarship Celebration Summit.
DAISY CEDILLO PEREZ, intern at the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC
What’s your post-college professional aspiration? After college I am hoping to work as an art teacher.
What has your summer job involved? At the Gibbes, I work as a teacher assistant to the art teachers running the classes ranging for ages 4-16. I usually help with setting up art projects, helping students with said projects, and making sure the kids are having fun. I have worked 4-hour classes with the older kids as well as 8-hour classes with the younger kids, which has given me the opportunity to experience working with different age groups.
What’s been the most memorable part of this experience? The most memorable parts of this experience were the times I was given the chance to create my own projects for the kids/my own lecture and the times I ran the classrooms myself when the teachers could not attend for a day. It gave me some insight to what it would be like running my own classroom.
How has the Meeting Street Scholarship made this experience possible for you? Meeting Street made this experience possible because the internship was only available to college students and without the scholarship, I would not have been able to attend college.
CADENCE BROWN, intern at Swiss Krono in the human resources and finance department
What’s your post-college professional aspiration? As the self-proclaimed Drama Queen, my current post graduation professional aspiration is to become a theatre teacher to restore curiosity and creativity to underprivileged communities and people, all while providing a positive outlet for the strong emotions these students may have.
What has your summer job involved? Through this experience, I was able to work on my presence as an educator as I trained new hires, created engaging and informational posts for the employees to understand new policies and procedures, and learned to pivot throughout the day when time sensitive issues arose. Furthermore, I took advantage of the opportunity to study abroad this summer. As I write this, I am currently in Spain, living with a host family, and increasing my Spanish proficiency on a daily basis. As a future educator, I believe that being able to communicate with the ever-growing Hispanic population is pivotal to providing a classroom environment that is free of miscommunication and is founded on mutual understanding and respect. Additionally, I have been taking a course that encourages students like me to consider the implications of technology, its capabilities, its effect on our future, and how it will greatly (for better or worse) impact upcoming generations.
What’s been the most memorable part of this experience? This summer has truly been one for the books, from hiking to the top of Cathedrals, meeting amazing people and exploring the world around me. I could truly go on and on about my experiences thus far, but I also could go on and on about the people and organizations who made this summer possible.
How has the Meeting Street Scholarship made this experience possible for you? Thank you, thank you, thank you for turning this study abroad from a wish to an actuality. This would not be possible without your financial and emotional support.
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