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Beyond the classroom, Danielle鈥檚 had hands-on experience through her psychology capstone project as an intern with the Nashua Children鈥檚 Home, where she served as a companion and mentor for some of the youth there. The internship came out of her summer 2023 capstone class with Professor Jayne Barnes.

鈥淚 have a great internship with Nashua Children鈥檚 home, I was just so impressed by it. From the street it looks so small and unassuming, but it鈥檚 this huge house.鈥�

The Nashua Children鈥檚 Home began as the 鈥淣ashua Protestant Orphanage鈥� back in 1903, and has been in operation ever since.

Danielle described the home as split into a space for older girls, younger girls, and younger boys. And another space on Concord Street in Nashua for older boys.

鈥淭hey set it up like a family 鈥� the have chores for allowance, they are expected to keep their spaces clean to build that sense of personal responsibility 鈥� it鈥檚 probably one of the most rewarding things I鈥檝e done besides becoming a mom.鈥�

She said she鈥檚 learned a lot from her internships. 鈥淭hey are resilient, they are survivors 鈥� I鈥檝e learned more from them then they did from me. As an intern, I couldn鈥檛 be alone with them or drive them anywhere, but I was allowed to sit and talk to them, and if they wanted to talk and share how they were feeling. It鈥檚 more of a mentorship role. I didn鈥檛 try to be a mom figure, but maybe an older sister role. There鈥檚 never any judging 鈥� I wanted them to feel accepted and be themselves.鈥�

Danielle hopes to continue working with the Nashua Children鈥檚 Home after her internship in a per diem role. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very much like a home there. There are psychologists and therapists and family therapists who try to integrate them back into their home, and if that doesn鈥檛 work, they help prepare them for when they age out. They are very focused on teaching them life skills. They sit and eat dinner together, they go over their goals 鈥� like a family meeting. A chef comes in and cooks for them, and they can cook for themselves. It鈥檚 very much like a cozy home.鈥�

Nashua Children鈥檚 Home Training & Recreational Coordinator Daniele Ferreira commented on Danielle鈥檚 time as an intern. 鈥淒anielle was an amazing person to the kids and the staff in her time here; she was very kind, patient, and accepting which is what kids who have experienced trauma need in order to open up and talk about their experiences to heal and overcome their past challenges. Danielle was incredibly dedicated to her role that she established with the kids and the staff despite having her own children at home, her coursework, and life in general鈥�that is certainly no easy task.鈥�

鈥淒anielle does fantastic work with youth who have experienced abuse, neglect, and trauma and I sincerely hope that her educational pursuits lead her to working with this population of youth in some capacity as she is exactly the type of person that they need,鈥� said Ferreira.

Professor Barnes said Danielle has been an excellent student, 鈥淚 have been impressed with her ability to be resilient, optimistic, and empathic, her enjoyment of interacting with other students, and as a result of her life experiences, adding so much to our class discussions.  She is a great role model for other students since she always is looking to see how she can learn and improve and asks for constructive feedback and direction.鈥�

After she graduates from NCC next spring, Danielle plans to transfer to a four-year program in New Hampshire to complete her bachelor鈥檚 degree.

To fellow adult learners who wish to continue their education, she said don鈥檛 hesitate.