Meet Danica, our July Youth Highlight!

Meet Danica (she/they), our July youth highlight! Danica is a recent high school graduate actively participating in Summer Internships, Industry Tours, and DevNW Financial Classes! She learned about Connected Lane County through their career coordinator at Pleasant Hill High School, Kathy Duval, and participated in the 2023 Summer Internships before signing up for additional programming! Danica has enjoyed her various experiences with Connected Lane County; read her short interview to learn more about her experience! 

What Connected Lane County events or experiences have you participated in, and what were the highlights?

“I first participated in the 2023 Summer Internships! I found it through my career coordinator, Kathy Duval, at Pleasant Hill High School. The whole thing was the utmost positive experience, and I don’t think I could ask for much, if anything different! The Connected Lane County Staff were very welcoming, accommodating, helpful, and a pleasure to talk with

whenever it occurred! The trivia/group activities during orientation/wrap-up week are a favorite highlight and help reinforce the idea of community and fun together! It’s a great time to catch up with the other interns and Connected Lane County staff, discuss their experiences, and make thoughtful connections! Words can’t describe how fulfilling and excellent this experience was, and I can’t recommend it enough!

Following that experience, I participated in the Spring Industry Tour! I went on the Medical Tour with my Emergency Medical Technology teacher, Cristy Vough. The spring industry tour was great! I took a tour of a clinic and hospital, and Shimea and co. were very helpful and encouraging, sometimes leading discussions regarding careers, industry, and more with hospital staff. A highlight was the exciting discussion in the upstairs meeting area in the clinic, where I learned about how some staff got their positions through various ways and more about what they do in each position, respectively—almost got me to go into the health field, haha!

I also attended DevNW youth financial foundations classes with the instructor, Abby Hames, at Spark at Booth-Kelly. 

The DevNW Youth Financial Foundations class was an incredible and essential experience! Abby was excellent and understanding of different backgrounds/experiences revolving around finances! It reinforced my knowledge while expanding my resources, such as having Abby as a financial coach! A highlight was the easygoing atmosphere she created between the group present and making sure we all understood the resources! Connected Lane County did a wonderful job teaming up with her on this, and I’d highly recommend it!

I’m participating in the 2024 Summer Internship, and I think it’s going great so far!

So far, the orientation week has been my favorite highlight. It was great to see the staff again and meet other interns! I always enjoy the icebreakers they do and group activities! They always have us think of important career and future skills with these! 

The current internship will help me determine whether I’ll pursue an agriculture career or maybe a business or finance degree at Oregon State University. So far, working at Mt. Pisgah and Friends of Buford Park Nursery has been rewarding and enjoyable!” said Danica.

Do you feel these experiences impacted your future educational or career goals?

“Yes, most definitely. The internship from 2023 gave me more insight into video game creation and the behind-the-scenes. I don’t think I’ll do it as a career, but perhaps as a hobby! The industry tour gave me a better insight and almost convinced me to do something in health, but I still don’t think it’s the field for me. I also really value the youth financial foundations class, and despite knowing a good bit of it due to my school’s Economics class, I still gained more resources and reinforced said knowledge more! I might go into something along with finances if I decide to pursue college! The current internship determines whether I’ll pursue something in agriculture, business, or finance at Oregon State University. So far, working at Mt. Pisgah and Friends of Buford Park Nursery has been very rewarding and enjoyable!” said Danica.

What are your future career or educational goals?

“I want to one day have a studio or company that does animation films that will create stories embracing and sharing underrepresented groups and cultures. I want to help create visual art that many will enjoy while accurately representing culture, language, history, and more. Inspirations are Tom Moore’s Irish Folklore Trilogy, Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse, Lilo and Stitch, and Moana,” said Danica.

Is there anything else you want to share or something you feel is important we include?

“The Connected Lane County staff have my endless gratitude and respect for their effort to make sure I felt welcomed, heard, and encouraged with my goals and future aspirations. They are the epitome of striving to embody their company’s values. The opportunities are always great and improved upon, and I’ve had positive experiences with Connected Lane County,” said Danica.

Danica has a few more weeks left of their summer internship! Join us in wishing them the best!

Read more youth highlights here!