Name: Sydney Schmidt-Nowara
Class Year: 2026
Major: Psychology
Minor: Asian American Studies
Internship Organization: The Quad Manhattan
Internship Title: Psychosocial Internship
Location: New York, NY
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
As a Psychosocial Intern at the Quad Manhattan, I support the positive behavioral development of “twice-exceptional” children – a population that is simultaneously gifted/talented and has learning/neurodevelopmental differences in a summer camp setting. At the beginning of the summer, I conducted an in-depth exploration of campers’ neuropsychological profiles, which allowed me to devise individualized behavioral and/or social goals (e.g., “I will use my words to share my needs/emotions/wants with others”) for each child. Now, on a daily basis, I collaborate with a team of psychological professionals to facilitate and measure campers’ progress through these goals.
Why did you apply for this internship?
Before this summer, although I had taken several developmental psychology courses at BMC and even work at a developmental psychology lab at Haverford College, I had yet to fully experience the work of psychological practice. I applied for this internship to (1) immerse myself in the real-world application of psychological theory/research and (2) learn more about “twice-exceptionality” and how to support this underserved population of learners. With the knowledge and experience I will gain this summer, I hope to better understand the path I want to take through the field of psychology.
What was your favorite part of this internship?
My favorite part of this internship is the level of communication between staff members, which includes other interns, teachers, and camp administrators. There is a constant line of communication between staff and leadership, which means that everyone is in the loop – and thus able to provide support – during moments of conflict, unexpected change, or on-the-spot problem-solving.
What is most rewarding about your internship?
The most rewarding part of my internship has been building trust and rapport with my group of campers. A lot of kids are coming into this summer program having only been in the public school system, which is an environment that often fails to serve the needs of twice-exceptional learners. For instance, a twice-exceptional child may need the support of a paraprofessional, but also may belong in a highly advanced “honors” class; the education system often fails to simultaneously meet these needs, as the categories of “high ability” and “disability” are commonly viewed as mutually exclusive. As a result, the kids attending the Quad Manhattan may be quick to distrust adults and educators. For this exact reason, it is even more rewarding when I have moments of connection with campers.