About Me
Hey, my name is Carllie Meeks and I currently am a graduating senior majoring in Social Work with a minor in Conflict Peace and Justice Studies. I have a passion for the education system and believe that mental wellness should be implemented in every institution. This year I had the opportunity to intern at Harry Truman Wellness Center in Chicago. Harry Truman Community College is located off the redline Wislon stop in the uptown area. My time there has been filled with several experiences that will serve me well in my social work career. Here is my story....
Hey, my name is Carllie Meeks and I currently am a graduating senior majoring in Social Work with a minor in Conflict Peace and Justice Studies. I have a passion for the education system and believe that mental wellness should be implemented in every institution. This year I had the opportunity to intern at Harry Truman Wellness Center in Chicago. Harry Truman Community College is located off the redline Wislon stop in the uptown area. My time there has been filled with several experiences that will serve me well in my social work career. Here is my story....
My role
upWorkshops:
Balancing school, work, and personal life is challenging, and it's normal for any of us to experience stress at times. Me and other interns provided resources to help manage these stressors for Truman students, especially during midterm season. One of my favorite techniques to include in these workshops is Mindfulness which can be done in any space. Mindfulness focuses on letting go of stress through being self aware in the moment. Wellness Groups: Truman provides several different support groups. Support groups are offered on topics relevant to college students, such as stress and time management, busy parents, anger management, and veterans issues. These groups were a safe space for students to process with their peers and learn new techniques to manage these stressors. Hosting External Organizations Truman partners with several outside organizations such as Planned Parenthood and Asian Human Services to provide additional resources for students. Me and other interns role were to inform students through flyers and tabling of these free services. Food Pantry: Falcon Food pantry is a free service provided for students who may be facing hardship or need additional help with receiving food products. My role was to be a welcoming face for students and staff while guiding them through the sign up process and picking their items. Counseling: Many of my work with students involved providing a safe space for them to talk. This can range from helping them overcome barriers in the classroom or home life. Counseling sessions often involved case management services which link students to resources such as SNAP, Subsidized Housing or Health Insurance. |
Thank you's
My experiences at Harry Truman Wellness Center will stick with me for a lifetime. I would like to thank my supervisors Karen Christie and Juliana for fostering a place of growth and unveiling to me the skills already engrained within me. I would like to thank Irene for giving me advice and training me to be a resource connoisseur. I would like to thank the 2019/2020 Intern group for rooting me on every step of the way. Lastly I would like to thank Cynthia Stewart and Mellon Funding for allowing me to continue my academic journey at Loyola. I am excited to say that I will continue my journey at Loyola as a MSW student and in Chicago Public Schools as a social work intern.