My Internship at the South Orange County Vet Center
Hello everyone! My name is Brayan Quiroz, and I am currently a junior at Chapman University, majoring in Communication Studies with a minor in Leadership. Over the summer, I had the opportunity to intern at the South Orange County Vet Center, a mental health facility that provides counseling, resources, and support to combat veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. During my internship, I assisted with office management and veteran outreach, which gave me the opportunity to work directly with a community that means a lot to me personally.
My connection to the Vet Center actually began before my internship. During my time in the Marine Corps, I met one of the directors through an event at Camp Pendleton. As I transitioned out of the military, the Vet Center became one of the resources that helped me adjust to civilian life. Because of that experience, interning there felt like I was coming full circle. I was now able to give back to a community and an organization that had once helped me.
My responsibilities varied from day to day. I assisted with office management duties, answered phone calls, communicated with veterans, and helped direct them toward resources for VA benefits and other veteran-related questions. One of the biggest things I learned was that sometimes a veteran does not know where to start. Even if I did not personally have the answer to every question, being able to listen, communicate clearly, and connect someone with the right person or resource could make a difference.
I also had the opportunity to work with the outreach coordinator, including participating in outreach at Camp Pendleton. This was probably one of the most meaningful parts of my internship because I could relate personally to many of the younger service members preparing to transition out of the military. I recently went through that transition myself, so I could speak to them from personal experience. Instead of only explaining what resources were available, I could tell them why those resources mattered and encourage them not to wait until they were struggling to ask for help.
My studies at Chapman also helped me throughout this internship. My School of Communication coursework has taught me the importance of understanding your audience, actively listening, and adjusting your communication based on the person and situation. At the Vet Center, those skills became much more than concepts from the classroom. Every veteran has a different personality, background, and experience. Some people may be comfortable talking about what they are going through, while others may be more hesitant. Learning how to listen and communicate without making assumptions helped me build better connections with the veterans I interacted with.
My Leadership Studies coursework also influenced the way I approached the internship. I learned that leadership is not always about being the person in charge. Sometimes leadership means showing up with a good attitude, helping wherever you are needed, and treating small responsibilities with the same importance as larger ones. Whether I was answering a phone call, helping with office responsibilities, or speaking with service members at Camp Pendleton, I tried to put my best foot forward.
The biggest lesson I will take away from this internship is that every little thing matters. A task may seem small to you, but it could have a much bigger impact on the person you are helping. Working at the Vet Center also reminded me how important mental health resources are within the veteran community and how important it is for veterans to know that asking for help is okay.
For other Chapman students looking for internships, my advice is to use your network and seek opportunities that matter to you personally. My internship came from a connection I originally made during my military service, and I never expected that connection to eventually become part of my college experience.
I am grateful to Chapman for giving me the opportunity to turn my experience into academic and professional growth. Most importantly, I am blessed to serve a community that serves me.
