Name: Jaclyn (Jie) Ji
Class Year: 2022
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Dalian, China
Internship Organization: HearMe
Job Title: Listener
Location: Remote
What鈥檚 happening at your internship?
This summer I worked as a listener at HearMe, an emotional wellness app that matches trained volunteers (like me) to members who feel lonely and want to talk through instantaneous text. I provide one-on-one active listening support to members of HearMe; I create a safe and judgement-free space and help people enjoy the benefits of being truly seen, heard, and validated.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I love HearMe鈥檚 idea of redefining mental health to make it more accessible and affordable. As a psychology major, I鈥檓 aware of the mental health crisis in the U.S. and in the world. The need to simply talk to someone is real and valid (especially in the post-COVID era) but talking to a therapist remains a privilege that isn鈥檛 available or affordable to everyone. I appreciate HearMe鈥檚 effort to build a sustainable peer support system and I want to a part of the change.
What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn鈥檛 expect?
Before starting, I was most worried about giving the most appropriate and timely response, like asking the most thought-provoking question. But at the first day of my job, I realized that it isn鈥檛 how this works. It鈥檚 not about what I say. This space is for the HearMe member, not for me. I was invited to offer my company to the member for the next half an hour (that鈥檚 usually how long one session lasts) and when I listen with empathy, the most natural response is the best help I can offer.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship?
The challenging part of this internship is to find the balance between work and my personal life: I want to be 100 percent invested when listening to HearMe members but I don鈥檛 want that commitment to interfere with my personal life outside of work. I remember on a particular day, I received several inappropriate texts and I found my brain processing them hours after the conversations. At the same time, I don鈥檛 want to detach myself too much that members don鈥檛 feel heard. Thus, finding this balance between work and life has been the part where I find most challenging throughout this internship.
Visit the Summer Internship Stories page to read more about student internship experiences.