Girls Inc.
Title: Strong, Smart, and Bold Girls Against the World
Student Interns:
Jocelyn Kujanek
Drexel University College of Medicine
Bailey Rigg
Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Emily Spengler, MD
Drexel University College of Medicine
Community Preceptor:
Stacey Moonjeli
Girls Inc.
Community Site:
Using a whole-girl approach to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold, Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey serves more than 3,000 girls annually. Through Girls Inc., young girls can develop confidence, build on their strengths, and take bold risks through evidence-based programs, mentoring, and healthy relationships in a safe, proactive environment with other young women. Girls Inc. equips young girls to navigate barriers and face challenges while also promoting health, wellness, independence, and opportunities for girls everywhere.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps interns at Girls Inc. helped plan and facilitate activities for two camps: Mind Body Matters and Eureka. Mind Body Matters was a three-day camp centered around wellness activities for girls in elementary and middle school. Eureka was a four-week camp for 8th and 9th-grade girls focused on STEM-related activities and career exploration, which made up the bulk of the BTG internship. The interns facilitated hands-on activities with the girls, such as team-building games, planting wildflower seeds, making lip balm from beeswax, and doing crafts with clay, fiber, and mosaic arts. Drawing on their medical school backgrounds, the interns also led lessons on skeletal anatomy using bone models, discussed women’s health topics, and explained the career path to becoming a physician with hands-on clinical skills practice. In addition, the girls also explored other careers, such as engineering and finance, through field trips, workshops, and virtual panels.
Reflections
My time working with Girls Inc. this summer has inspired me to stay curious, embrace flexibility, and never give up when faced with challenges. A consistent theme this summer for myself and the girls was the development of resilience by sitting in discomfort and embracing the unfamiliar with an open mind. Working with middle schoolers called for patience, persistence, and showing up every day with authenticity. I found that listening and understanding the girls’ unique, intuitive perspectives allowed me to gradually earn their trust. Through plenty of trial and error, I found ways to provide education in an interactive, accessible way. This required adaptability and embracing what the girls responded to, rather than the layout dictated by a lesson plan. The most gratifying moments were seeing girls light up with excitement to try something new, especially when they were previously unwilling to participate. I adored seeing the girls embrace the moment and experience sparks of interest that could light a future fire. Through this experience, I helped the girls navigate conflicts as they learned how to be good friends to each other, communicate effectively, and manage strong emotions. Learning to speak with teenagers, I truly understood the importance of collaborating rather than lecturing and adjusting my approach to better match each individual’s strengths and interests. Many of the girls come from underserved backgrounds, and this program empowers them to pursue opportunities that could impact their lives and generations to follow. I am so hopeful for these girls as they pursue whatever they put their minds to, and I know my experience with them will inform my interactions with patients of all ages to come.
Jocelyn Kujanek
My summer at Girls Inc. has taught me how to build trusting relationships with adolescents, be adaptable, and incorporate creativity while teaching STEM-based topics. I was a teenager the last time I worked with children, and it initially felt harder to connect with the girls as an adult and medical student. Through showing curiosity in their interests and incorporating those in our activities, such as playing their favorite music during a craft activity, I was able to slowly build a trusting rapport with the girls. This was also my first time being a leader in a classroom setting, which strengthened my ability to take control of a group and attend to the different needs of each individual. I enjoyed the range of personalities and interests among the group, as some girls were always very eager to participate while others required more attention and encouragement. I admired their curiosity during field trips and career panels as well as their willingness to participate and push themselves out of their comfort zones. My summer has ultimately inspired me to be more curious during interactions with future patients and community members and to incorporate more creativity in my science-centered life.
Bailey Rigg
