Honors student discovers passion for pediatric care
through internship
Sanjana Gupta recently wrapped up an internship at a pediatric mental health center. It was through this experience that Gupta, who is majoring in Health, Physical Education and Exercise Science, was able to assist in a clinical setting and affirm her career choice to work with helping children. Read more about her experience below.
Tell us about your internship.
During my time working at the Virginia Treatment Center for Children (VTCC) for the Validation of Aggression-Impulsive/Reactive (AIR) Project, I supported pediatric mental health research by administering and scoring interviews under supervision, guiding children and caregivers through structured survey assessments, and assisting with data collection. I was responsible for accurately entering and managing participant data in REDCap to ensure data integrity and confidentiality. I was also responsible for observing and supervising children during study visits to ensure their safety, comfort and engagement throughout assessments.
What did you gain from this internship experience?
This experience helped me grow both professionally and personally. Working directly with children and families showed me how much care, patience and flexibility pediatric mental health work truly requires, especially when kids are struggling to express what they’re feeling. Being involved in assessments and observations made the research feel human rather than just data, and it strengthened my confidence in interacting with children in clinical settings. It also reinforced why I want to pursue a career centered on caring for kids and supporting their mental and emotional well-being.
How do you feel Honors helped you?
The Honors College really helped me explore my curiosity about how kids learn and develop. While working on my Honors research paper about handwriting, I started thinking about all the different parts of a child’s brain that have to work together like motor skills, attention, memory and language and how each one affects learning in ways I hadn’t considered before. That project also gave me the confidence to seek guidance from a professor, who encouraged me to reach out to the Psychology Department. Following that advice led to my involvement in pediatric mental health research, which has been an incredible opportunity to connect what I learned in the classroom to real-world work with kids.
What advice do you have for your peers?
I would tell younger students to stay curious and not be afraid to reach out for opportunities, even if they feel intimidating at first. Ask questions, seek guidance from professors or mentors and explore areas that genuinely interest you. Sometimes the experiences you don’t expect end up teaching you the most. Also, take small chances to get involved, whether it’s research, volunteering or shadowing, because those experiences can really shape your path and help you discover what you’re passionate about.