Sociology Major Develops Skills for Future as Social Worker

August 7, 2018

Dashawna “Day” Anderson, Senior Sociology major, completed a six-credit hour summer internship with S.H.A.R.E House Family Violence Crisis Center located in Douglasville, GA. Day will graduate in May 2019 and plan to pursue a Master’s Degree in Social Work. Here’s what Day had to say about her sociology internship experience:

I completed my summer internship at S.H.A.R.E. The acronym S.H.A.R.E. stands for “Someone Helping Another Through Resources and Education.” S.H.A.R.E. House has an administrative office and a Domestic Violence shelter that serves women and children; I had the opportunity to intern at both sites where I worked with a diverse group of people. While interning at the shelter, I interacted with survivors and their children and answered the crisis hotline for individuals in need of help and support. At the administrative office, I observed and conducted intakes for clients to attend support groups and acquire a restraining order. When doing client intakes, I was exposed to the symbolic interactionist perspective, in which sociologists consider symbols and details of life, the meaning of the symbols, and how people interact with one another. People connect meanings to symbols which in turn causes them to act in specific ways. I viewed this perspective in several settings at my internship. I also saw the symbolic interactionist perspective when I attended bond court hearings. Bond court opened my eyes to what was going on within my community as far as crime is concerned. Overall, I learned a copious amount of information related to social work, case management, legal advocacy, administration, and much more. I am sure that the experience I have acquired will help me in my career field when I become a Social Worker.

If you’re interested in learning more about potential sociology internships, please contact Dr. April Schueths, Sociology Internship Coordinator and Associate Professor at aschueths@georgiasouthern.edu.