In April, Sela Kline joined the JFS vocational team as an intern. She was an integral part of the department and worked between 20 and 25 hours a week while completing a dual major in English and Gender, Women, & Sexuality Studies (GWSS) at the University of Denver. Before Sela’s internship ended at the end of June, we asked her to share a little about her experience in our Vocational program. 

Q:  How did you find yourself at JFS? 

SK:  I am a senior at the University of Denver studying GWSS, English, and Spanish. My original plan of going into college was to become a teacher, but a few months ago, I decided to explore other options. My school was having a career fair, and I was told to go on the second day, because the second day was for arts and humanities students. I looked at what companies and organizations would be at the fair and noted JFS—I really liked the holistic approach, diversity, and values of the organization. When I got to the fair, I beelined to JFS and met Ruby and someone else who were there to find an intern for the Kid Success program. When I got home, I looked up the KidSuccess internship online and saw the Vocational Program internship posted, too. I ultimately decided that the Vocational internship was a better fit for me because I wanted to explore career options that were more in the business and administrative fields than social work or therapy. I immediately felt like I had made the right decision when I met Gloria (JFS Vocational Program manager) and Leah (JFS Director of Employment Services) at my interview. I knew that this organization and internship were the right fit for me—I'm glad they felt the same way, too!  

Q: What has been a highlight of being a vocational program intern? 

SK:  Working with this team has been such a privilege. I’ve really appreciated that I’m given the space to take initiative while also always having a supportive group of people there for me when I ask for help. It has also been great to spend time with the vocational team in our weekly meetings—I learn so much about the non-profit world, but it’s also been a space where I’ve gotten to know my coworkers more. We’re always laughing while also having really comprehensive conversations.  

Q:  What is a project you’ve worked on that you are most proud of? 

SK:  A project I’ve worked on that I am most proud of is the surveys I made for the three vocational classes. The surveys were one of the first things I worked on when I started, and so they helped me to familiarize myself with the program and collaborate with my coworkers on the team. The project also allowed me to showcase some of the skills I bring to the table. As I made the surveys, I also learned how important they are for the program, and it felt really good to know that I was trusted to take on the project.  

Q:  What have you learned that will positively impact your career goals?  

SK:  Participating in this program has done so much for me in terms of my career goals. Mainly, I’ve learned that community and social justice are at the core of my professional motivations—knowing that the work I do directly impacts the lives of our clients is something that gets me out of bed in the morning. In a more technical sense, this program has also developed my administrative skills, giving me the opportunity to add to my proficiencies. 

Q:  You recently received an award from DU. Can you share a bit about it? 

SK:  I was selected by the University of Denver Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies Advisory committee to receive the Rita Braito award for exceptional achievement in GWSS. The award is given to students who capture in their work at DU the creative thought, high standards, commitment to women’s well-being, and intellectual curiosity that Dr. Braito personified and sought to develop in her students. It was really exciting to receive the award—being a student in the GWSS program was one of the most incredible parts of my academic career, and I put in a lot of work to make sure I took full advantage of the privilege that was being in that program. I think my biggest accomplishment and a part of the reason I won the award is because I wrote an honors thesis that explored Jewish Women in the American South from 1939-2024. I’ll really miss the classroom, the professors, and my fellow students, but I’m also excited to take what I’ve learned and do my part to make this world a better, more equitable place. 

Q:  What are your goals after your internship? 

SK:  I graduated this weekend, and after I finish my internship, I’ll go back home to New Orleans. It really is with a heavy heart that I am leaving JFS, but I want to be near my family, so I will be applying for jobs in New Orleans and New York (where my sister lives). Working at JFS has helped me learn not only about the non-profit world but also about what I value in work and what motivates me to get up in the morning. So, in this next chapter of my life, I will definitely be taking the skills and self-knowledge that I’ve gained from JFS as I continue on my career journey.  

Interns like Sela are making a difference throughout the community, and her work at JFS has not only been fulfilling, but also helped us meet our mission of improving the lives of individuals and families in need throughout Colorado.