CIP Graduate Takes Alternative to College
By Katrina Karro-Gassner, Berkshire Center Graduate
Over the years I have learned a great deal from all my friends, staff and coworkers. I look back and remember my first year when I had some difficult times. When I first came to the College Internship Program (CIP), I was afraid to try new things and was not ready to get a job, I refused to try an internship because I had no experience and it was hard for me to do things on my own.
My second year at CIP, I had Corrine, Lucy and Linda at C-STEP (Career Skills Training and Employment Program) who convinced me to get an internship and try to learn as much as I could. My first internship was at United Cerebral Palsy where I performed office duties such as answering the phone, preparing mailings, photocopying and shredding papers. I learned what it was like to work in an office.
My third year I took on a new challenge and worked at the Lenox Library. I did some errands and stuffed envelopes. I felt much more comfortable working now.
My senior year I felt even more prepared and had developed more confidence in myself. I went back to the Lenox Library and did a few of the same tasks as in the past, plus I did many new tasks such as invitations and running variety of errands.
I also worked in the Children’s Youth Department. The children’s room is where they do arts and crafts and where adults read books to the children. I appreciate the help that Lisa Berkel, Jenny Ray and the other staff members had given me. I enjoyed working with them.
For the past four years, I’ve had different roommates and learned to live with other people. I learned that we all have to work together as a team, just like working at a job or in school. When they needed it, I helped my roommates with cleaning and cooking. I also enjoyed it when they helped me. We shared many good meals together.
Most of our time we talked about funny things and laughed together , but there were times when we struggled and had arguments in the apartment. We tried to solve our problems among ourselves, understanding each other’s needs. When things went wrong, we made the best out of it.
In the apartment it is necessary to compromise on some things and be respectful and kind to others. It’s great to share my ideas with friends. We have learned to give and take from each other as well as share our feelings, thoughts and ideas. Sometimes it’s hard for me to share things but I learned to share more by having roommates. During our free time, my roommates and I also like to hang out with our friends in the student lounge. We especially enjoyed ourselves at this year’s Spring Break trip to Greece!
I am thankful for all the staff helping me with all my academics and personal vocational development. For example, when I didn’t understand something, or had errors on my paper, the teachers where always there to help me. I have enjoyed working with my tutors and in tutoring groups with Mya Adams. Here I have learned to complete my homework on my own and do assignments the right way. When we do projects in class, I like to work as a member of a team, as well as presenting to the class.
Sometimes in class we do projects on the computer such as using Power Point to create Person-Centered Plans, planning our goals for the next month, year and beyond. We also have created resumes, cover letters and practiced job searching skills. CIP also offered me the opportunity to perform for children in the Animals Crackers Puppet Group, where we perform puppet shows for local children’s groups. I very much enjoyed doing the sound effects and participating in general. I was also given the opportunity to do many community service projects such as Community Suppers, Town Cleanup and Walk for the Homeless.
I want to thank all the staff that encouraged me to be independent because they were there when I needed a little help. I like the way staff provided me with the information to make decisions on my own, even if they were difficult decisions. At first it made me uncomfortable when people knew I did not understand things. Now I ask for help when I need it. I have learned how to budget my money so that I have enough to cover my expenses and still have some left over for activities or savings.
The most important thing that I learned is to be flexible and understanding of other people. I worked very hard being able to accept people for who they are and to be more understanding of other people’s differences. I am also thankful for Liz Wheeler who reminds me how I’ve changed in four years and helps me express my emotions in appropriate ways.
When I leave CIP I would like to continue to learn as much as I can about living on my own and practice my new skills. I would like to keep looking for an interesting job and possibly sign-up for vocational training in another field of interest. I would like to earn my own money, living independently. I plan to continue playing soccer and swim for exercise, will continue playing piano and cooking international foods. In the future I would like to learn to drive and travel, seeing new places in the world. I feel ready and well prepared to live my life and I look forward to being independent.
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