The summer hire program provides the ideal conduit to capture a realistic glimpse of work life in healthcare organization. We feature two of our interns – Emma Charlie and McKinley Fox.
Emma Charlie, Bethel Regional High School senior, Outpatient/Ambulatory Services intern
Emma was born and raised in Bethel and will be graduating from BRHS in May 2024. She hopes to be able to intern and/or job shadow at YKHC when the school year begins as her career goal is to someday become a nurse in our community.
- What have you learned from working at YKHC as a summer hire?
I have learned that there are more professions in healthcare besides doctors, nurses, and physicians.
- What things did you learn in school that were applicable to your work assignments?
My computer skills and knowledge of medical terms were very useful in completing my work assignments.
- What would you like to be when you grow up?
I want to be a nurse because I have always wanted to help others in my community. There is such a great need for nurses here in the YK Region. I learned that there are different types of nurses: ER, OR, OB, etc. I have yet to decide what type of nurse to be as there are so many options. I have considered other careers; however, becoming a nurse has always been my goal.
- Any thoughts or advice for students who may be aspiring to pursue a summer job next year?
There are benefits with any profession. I recommend learning everything you can about your potential career, as it provides you with a better picture of what the career is all about.
Begin working within the same field as your career goal. There is a lot more to a career than you may think, and a summer job will help you decide if that is really what you want to do. Time management, being on time to work, and taking responsibility are very important in a job.
McKinley Fox, Chief Paul Memorial School senior (Kipnuk), Human Resources intern
McKinley was born in Bethel and moved to Kipnuk when she was 4 years old. She has 5 sisters and a brother and is grateful to have family in Bethel as their support has afforded her the opportunity to work this summer.
- What have you learned from working at YKHC this summer?
There is a lot to do in HR and it is very stressful. I really learned and experienced how stressful work in HR is!
- What did you learn in school that helped you with your work assignments?
Being prepared to do whatever the job requires and being willing to learn and work with others. Going to the hospital to get snacks was the most fun part of my job and filing was the worst.
- Is working in HR a career path for you?
I am glad that I have this experience in HR, but I do not wish to have a career in HR. I would like to be a healthcare provider but not sure what specific profession yet.
- Any thoughts or advice for students who may be aspiring to pursue a summer job next year?
Go ahead and apply anyway. It may be stressful, but it will teach you things you need to know about what having a job is all about. You will get to experience real work life.
I was part of a “Youth to Work” program in Kipnuk but this YKHC summer job is way more stressful and required a lot of me. The “Youth to Work” program was only for 4 hours per day and I learned to make crafts, something I really enjoy doing and can be useful as a business in the future.
Working at YKHC required longer hours and I learned a lot about HR and all the stress that comes with it. I am, however, grateful for the experience as it has taught me the value of hard work and what real work is all about. And it reminded me to work hard and not be lazy.