Sarah Dias

This past summer, I spent two months interning at a local nonprofit called Home HeadQuarters. Home HeadQuarters works to provide a wide range of home improvement programs and services for residents in Central and Upstate New York. As an intern I worked with their lending team, processing applications as well as working directly with customers who had any inquiries about the programs Home HQ had to offer. It was an in-person internship, so not only was I able to gain valuable career experience but I was also able to experience a Syracuse summer for the first time without the school year being in session. It was a one of a kind experience that allowed me to gain a taste of the real world!

Through this internship, I felt extremely connected with the greater Syracuse community outside of the SU campus setting. I was able to work directly with customers who were interested in our programs and learn about various housing struggles New York residents experience.

This experience has fueled my motivation to continue working within the Syracuse community throughout the school year, especially as my time at Syracuse comes to an end. Additionally, it has also fueled my interest in working more with nonprofits. I plan to continue working with nonprofits.

Receiving the award allowed me to pay for my housing for my summer in Syracuse. This alleviated a lot of financial stress for my family and I.