"I would highly recommend participating in internships, practicums, and volunteer experiences whenever you have the opportunity. These are great ways to gain exposure to a variety of opportunities in the field. I loved having interns in my previous job position, as it provided a great opportunity to introduce them to the adoption/foster care world, and answer any questions they had relating to their future, job search, etc. Do not be shy about reaching out to those you might know in the workforce (whether it is related to what you are interested in or not), as they could serve as a great connection or source of advice.
And I know it is hard, but go easy on yourself! It is not very common that people enter their 'dream job' right after graduation, so try your best to embrace the journey, as you are sure to grow and learn a lot about yourself along the way!"
Laura's Career Journey
After graduating from Messiah in 2008, Laura worked as an Adoption & Permanency Specialist at The Bair Foundation for five and a half years. Within this position, she worked directly with children in the foster care system as well as with foster and pre-adoptive families. Her day-to-day tasks included writing Child Profiles (biographies of the children) and Family Profiles (homestudies for pre-adoptive families), providing Child Preparation services (therapeutic activities with the children), and assisting with the legal aspect of the adoption finalization process. This position played a significant role in the development Laura's skills, specifically in regards to working with a team, dealing with sensitive/traumatic situations, and developing a strong sense of assertiveness and advocacy when necessary.
Now that Laura is working for CURE International, she still appreciates the opportunity to work in the adoption field on a contract basis. Once per month, she leads a support group for adopted children with Bethany Christian Services, which provides the wonderful opportunity to connect with and support children and their families post-adoption.
Life As a Surgical Sponsorship Coordinator
As the Surgical Sponsorship Coordinator at CURE International, Laura is primarily responsible for pulling together photos and stories of children who are receiving life-changing surgeries at CURE's hospitals around the world. While a CUREkids Coordinator is on the ground in many of the hospitals capturing these phenomenal photos and stories, Laura is then able to take this information and compile it into a variety of reporting formats to send to some of CURE's larger donors. This provides a first-hand experience for the donor in regards to where their money is going and the lives that are being impacted as a result of their partnership and generosity.
While reporting plays a large part of Laura's role, she also serves on a variety of 'StratOp' (strategic planning) teams within the organization. As an organization, they work together on many levels to ensure that they are providing the best care possible for their patients and their families, while treating them in a just and dignified manner.
CURE International is a non-profit organization operating in charitable hospitals and programs in 30 countries worldwide. Here, patients have the opportunity to experience the life-changing message of God's love for them, while receiving surgical treatment regardless of gender, religion, or ethnicity.
Laura says about her experience at CURE:
"CURE International takes their mission 'to heal the sick and proclaim the Kingdom of God' very seriously. The work environment has been a wonderful place to strengthen and challenge my faith on a regular basis. Between weekly staff devotionals, staff meetings where incredible stories are shared (both personally and from the field), and 'third Wednesday' prayer times, I have been extremely grateful for the opportunity to work for an organization that is extremely intentional about honoring God through their daily work. CURE International focuses not only on physical healing, but also just as much on spiritual healing for patients and their families. It has been an honor to come alongside many of these children (from a distance!) in prayer and support as they return to their communities forever changed."