Final Reflection

At first Gallop NYC was not exactly what I hoped it was ... But over time, Gallop became more than I expected. Gallop taught me a lot, now I know that although there are children's out there with disabilities they still having a smile on their faces, with no complains. Unlike us, they don't make their problems so enormous like we do. Gallop taught me much about life. Every time I had the opportunity to see children's smiling I felt very fortunate, helping the children's was a really wonderful feeling. Gallop taught me much more than a career, Gallop taught me how wonderful life can be.

I am very grateful to have had the great opportunity to work with children and  such wonderful peers.Having the opportunity to be around horses was also wonderful, but the best part was watching as the children smiled with joy as they rode their horses. I had a memorable experience at Gallop ... I was very happy to see how children interact with horses. What I most enjoyed about my internship was that I was able to plant a small seed with my help.

Updated Resume

Hilda Davila

hdavila@inths.org

Education International High School at Lafayette 2009 - Present
Brooklyn NY
Expected graduation June 2013
GPA: 3.4

Experience Pam’s Bakery    2011
Brooklyn, NY

• Served clients
• Cleaned the bakery

Volunteer at Gallop NYC, Brooklyn, NY   2012

• Side walked with horses to ensure safety of rider.
• Organized the tools needed by therapists
• Brushed horses and dispose of their manure

Activities School Newspaper 2012 - Present

International High School at Lafayette

• Advice editor
• Commissioning and writing articles

iMentor 2011 - Present

International High School at Lafayette

• Participate in technology-based mentoring program for high school students

• Develop an ongoing relationship with an adult volunteer mentor via weekly emails and regular face-to-face meetings
• Attend iMentor-sponsored events

Skills Organized, respectful, work well under pressure

Computer skills, Microsoft Word and Strong online research skills

Making jewelry design, drawing and craft making

Language Fluent in Spanish
Conversant in English






References Sean Burke
Internship Teacher
International High School at Lafayette
sburke@inths.org

Matthew Hoffman
Global History Teacher
International High School at Lafayette
mhoffman@inths.org

Thank You Letter

May 22, 2012

Dear Ellen,

The time I spent at Gallop NYC under your charge was a great experience. You, the therapists, and all the volunteers taught me a great deal. Before going to Gallop NYC I was not able to be so close to horses and kids with disabilities who needed help. Gallop NYC does great work helping kids.

I really enjoyed the time I spent helping kids. Thanks to this organization I learned that there are wonderful opportunities to learn and to help other persons with special needs.

I’m sending you this letter to thank you for all your help, your willingness to answer my questions, and all your advice.  Thanks to you, I was able to go to a great organization such as Gallop NYC and I was able to interact with children with special needs. The children and all the volunteers taught me many things. Even though I didn’t know anything about horses, with your help I learned how to deal with horses and how to work with those kids with special needs.  I would also like to thank you for the opportunity to ride a horse.

Being able to help the children is an experience I’ll never forget. The work Gallop NYC does makes me feel very proud to know that there are people who care for those in need.  I’ll always remember the opportunity you gave me at Gallop NYC.

Thanks you so much!

Sincerely,

Hilda Davila

Photo Essay

This is the shovel we used to pick up the horses poop. It was one of the jobs I liked the less because the poop is stinky and also some volunteer that went there for only a day, they used to laught at us because we were picking the poop what made me really unconfortable.

This is me holding Marshmallow it was one of my favorite jobs, because I really like Marshmallow , he  was my favorite horse.

 This was the  cart I used to pull over the park with all the materials we needed.  I really didn't like to carry the car because it was too heavy and we had to cross the streets with it, it was really frustrating.   

Midpoint Refflection

At this point I have realized that Gallop NYC is a great organization. I really admire the job Gallop does. Is totally different from the school environment. My internship place is very different from the school environment because at school I'm sorrounded by a lot of students, but at my internship most of the volunteer are professionals. I have learned many skills from my internship such patience, tolerance dealing with horses and with kids. I think the skills I have get from my internship can open me door in any other job, because those skills are skills needed in any other job. My relationship with my mentor is not so close but we get along, I see her most of the time because she goes to Gallop. I get along really well with all my peers because all of them are very nice and helpful. Now that 5 weeks have passed I feel relief that we are missing only 5 more. I have the goals to help the most I can to the children's at Gallop.

Vocabulary

Word: Roll Back
Meaning: Stop
Context: I heard it when Sara Jane was asking the horse to stop.

Word: Presumptuous
Meaning: Arrogant, assuming too much
Context: I found it in SAT vocabulary list.

Word: Scrupulous
Meaning: Careful
Context: I found it in SAT vocabulary list.

Word: Unequivocal
Meaning: Clear, obvious
Context: I found it reading a blog.

Word: Maladroit
Meaning: Clumsy
Context: I found it in SAT vocabulary list.

The Interview

At my internship I interviewed my other supervisor. She is Sara Jane Casey and she is the Instructor at Gallop NYC.


1) How long have you lived in New York?
    
- 11 years

2) If you're not a native of New York, where did you live before? (cities, states, countries)?

- Auckland, New Zealand. - Sydney Australia.

3) How long have your worked here? Have you worked in different capacities at this job? What jobs at this company have you done in addition to the one you do now? 

- I've worked here 3 years.  - No, is the same thing. - Nothing.

4) What is your job title and what are the three tasks or responsibilities you do most often?

- Therapeutic horse riding and instructor. - The responsibilities I do most often is take care of the volunteers, take care of the horses and take care of the children's.

5) Who is your direct supervisor and what is her/his job title? How much do you interact with her/him on a weekly basis? How many people do you supervise?

- My supervisor is Alicia, she is the President of Gallop NYC. - I interact with her about two time a week. - I supervise 60 people a week.

6) What are two examples of challenges you face working here?

- Environment and dealing with a  lot of people.


7) What is the bes part of your job?

- Seeing the riders and the horses connect.

8) What is something you would like to change about your job?

- The environment.

9) What do you see as your future at this company? If you plan on changing jobs, what will you do?

- I think I'll stay teaching as a therapeutic.


10) Did you work somewhere else before this job? Where? For how long? How was that job similar or different?

- Actor (22-23 years old) In New Zealand and Australia. Horse stable for about 7-8 years in America.

11) How do you hope I, a high school intern, can most help your company or organization?

- Helpful, willing to do anything, afford help.

12) What advice would you give to teenage interns (such as myself) getting ready for college?

- Stay focus on what you want to do.

13) Where did you go to high school? What kind of student were you in high school? What were your favorite classes/ least favorite? What sports and extracurricular activities did you do?

- High school in New Zealand. - Talktive student. -Favorite subjects were human biology and geography. -Sport: Swimming, running and horse riding.

My Internship First Impressions

My supervisor's first and last name are Ellen Dry, her official job title is Volunteer Coordinator. My supervisor usually works with me and the other volunteers at the stable, she does not have a different office. There are many things I could say about my internship advisor. She is a very kind person, the first day I meet her she treated me really kindly. Also she is very respectful and very helpful, my first day at Gallop NYC she helped me a lot, she gave tips of how to manage the horses and how to work with the children's. Also she is very serious and direct, if she need to tell you something she just will tell you. Also I can say she does not like people to lie to her, and people who is not on time. At least I would say that Ms. Ellen is a very comprehensive person, making up the internship schedule was easy, because she helped me figuring out the time, and if I have reason why I can not go, she would understand.

 The place where I work is a small stable. The stable have many horses, but we use few of them. All the horses have candy names. There all horses of all colors, and horses that are really big. The smallest one is called Fudge. Some of the horses are not so quiet. The stable have a lot of tools, ropes to hold the horses, food for the horses, as carrots and apples. We have chairs to seat the parents of the children's, the stable have mini ladder for the kids. There are cones, balls and rings for the kids to do activities. There are also some things to pick up the poop of horses and a bucket to put the poop. There is a carriage outside and there is also a bathroom in the stable. The stable is usually noisy. I work three days a week and every day there are several and different volunteers, but there are only women. The stable is made of wood and has a gate on it.

At my internship I see the Volunteer Coordinator, the children's, their parents, other volunteers, the therapists and of course horses. The tasks I have done at my internship are: be a side walker, brush the horses, feed the horses with my hand, pick up the poop and help the therapists reaching them tools they need and things like that.

I work three days at Gallop NYC and my schedule is:

 Wednesday: 2:30 - 6:30
 Thursday:    2:30 - 5:30
  Friday:       2:30 - 7:00

I usually arrive home at different times, about 8, 7, 9... It depends of how late I'm off internship.

What I would like to share about my internship is that working with kids with disabilities is a really amazing job and also challenging, because you get to realize that is not about you, is about them. Is about helping them to become more independent, is about being able to help others that need your help. Is not about you being selfish, is about helping those kids. I didn't choose this internship because I love horses, also I am a little afraid of them. But I choose this internship because I want to help those children's, and I want to learn from them and  how working with horses would help them to develop in a better way. I want to learn how to treat those children's with disabilities, how to work with them and how to help them. All kids are equal, is only that some of them need more help. And I think this foundation Gallop NYC is doing an amazing job with those children's.