On His Way

An internship is a requirement to graduate from Colby-Sawyer. But for Andrew Davison ’23, his internship was much more than a prerequisite that needed to be checked off his to-do list. Davison’s internship led to a love for clinical work, a change of career paths and a full-time job upon his graduation next May.

Davison’s internship in spring 2022 was paid — one of the endowed internships that Colby-Sawyer is able to offer thanks to the generosity of several donors. It was a full-time internship at Mount Prospect Academy in Campton, N.H., a client-centered program for juveniles involved in the court system and/or the Division of Children, Youth and Families. The program offers a support system for approximately 25 youths aged 13-18, many with mental health issues, who have experienced abuse and neglect.

Davison began with a four-week internship in the residential treatment facility at Mount Prospect, then continued with an eight-week internship in the clinical department while he worked full time in the residential facility. Upon completion of his work there, the facility offered him part-time work during his senior year at CSC and a guaranteed job after graduation.

Heading into this internship, Davison thought he wanted to pursue a career as a lawyer. After spending time at the residential facility, he quickly decided to change his path and now hopes to earn a master’s degree and become a family therapist.

“It was when I was working full time in the residential facility doing my clinicals internship when I knew I wanted to change my career goals,” Davison said. “I was working with a student who was wearing clothes that were too small and I, along with my team, helped him get some money to buy new clothes, and that made his day. I gained his trust at this point. Working with him and understanding his story is what made me realize there is a big need for family therapists, and this is what I want to get into.”

Davison plans to work two to three days a week at Mount Prospect during his senior year and will begin his full time work after graduation. He plans to apply to grad schools to receive his master’s in social work and specialization in family and marriage counseling.

“I like being a support system to kids who never had support before and helping them change their behaviors,” Davison said, adding, “It feels good to have a job lined up after graduation. It feels good to have everything all set up.”