Hawks Hired highlights the accomplishments of current RWU students and soon to be and recent RWU graduates as they complete internships and finalize the next steps in their career journeys. This past Fall 2025 semester, Gabriela completed an internship as a College Mentor at the Coaching4Change Institution. Read on to learn more about her fantastic work at an amazing opportunity.
What is your program of study at RWU? I am a double major in Legal Studies and Psychology at Roger Williams University.
Graduation year? 2026
Where was this role?
My internship was with the Coaching4Change Institute, where I worked at Talbot Middle School in Fall River, Massachusetts as a College Mentor supporting 7th grade students.
What were you most looking forward to in this role? I was most looking forward to working with the younger generation and being part of the education system in a supportive role. As a first-generation Hispanic student, I also appreciated being able to connect with a wide variety of students and serve as someone they could relate to.
Who and what helped you during your internship search process? The person who helped me the most was Rena Piller-Thurston, the Assistant Director of Experiential Learning for the Center for Career and Professional Development. I was also able to find my internship through Handshake, which made the search process much easier and more organized.
What advice do you have to students who are in the process of finding an internship? My advice is to reach out to the Center for Career and Professional Development early and start the internship search process ahead of time. It’s important to find an internship that not only fulfills a requirement but also matches your interests and helps you build experience and skills that you can carry into your future career.
How did you land your internship? I landed my internship through Handshake, and I also reached out personally to the director of the program to introduce myself and express my interest in the position.
What was the most valuable part of your internship experience? The most valuable part of my internship experience was working directly with underserved youth and building real connections with my mentees. As a first-generation immigrant from El Salvador, education has always felt like a privilege to me. Growing up, I was involved in after-school programs throughout middle and high school, and those experiences played a big role in shaping who I am. Being able to support students in a similar way felt like a full-circle moment and was incredibly meaningful.
This internship has also helped me strengthen professional skills such as communication, patience, and leadership, especially while working with students who learn and express themselves in different ways. It gave me experience supporting students both academically and emotionally, and it reinforced my passion for advocacy. Overall, it reminded me how important it is for young people to have support systems, and it motivated me even more to continue working with and advocating for others in my future career.
Want to share your next steps or internship experience with the CCPD? Email Career Counselor Rian Jackson (rjackson@rwu.edu) to learn more about sharing with us!
