Major: Psychology
Minors: Sociology, Victimology and Victim Services
Hometown: Columbus, Nebraska
Lilly is a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and hails from Columbus, a small city an hour northwest. She shares that the education she received in her hometown helped guide her to a major in psychology.
“While taking an AP Psych course [in] my senior year of high school, I found my passion for psychology. During my first two years of college, I decided I wanted to specialize in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Profiling,” Lilly said. “In order to align with this specialization, I took up the minors of sociology and victimology and victim services.”
For her 2025 spring internship, she chose to work as a Teacher Assistant in the Youth Development Program at Family Service Lincoln. The program focuses on partnering with schools, families, and neighborhoods to provide learning opportunities in safe environments with the aim of helping to build stronger communities.
The internship appealed to her because it allowed her to be active in the Lincoln community while gaining hands-on experience relevant to her field.
“My role involved leading children through a variety of activities, which created a positive and productive learning environment. Through this experience, I have gained an understanding of children’s unique behavioral characteristics while developing effective de-escalation techniques,” Lilly said.
Lilly’s duties included the care and supervision of students ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade. Assisting with lesson plan execution and student engagement in such a fast-paced environment led to many impactful learning moments.
“This role has helped me learn valuable multi-tasking skills due to managing multiple children while simultaneously ensuring that everything runs smoothly in the classroom, cafeteria, or during recess,” Lilly said. “I have also learned how to support children in distress and recognize the unique traits of each child, allowing me to better meet their individual needs.”
Lilly appreciated the many ways this experiential learning provided her with a chance to practice hands-on and expand her understanding of her coursework.
“This internship allowed me to gain new knowledge and valuable skills, especially by watching each TA’s unique teaching styles. Throughout the program, I developed my own teaching strengths, which helped me better support the children and the classroom,” Lilly said. “As I got to know the kids, they also got to know me; it was a learning experience for both of us.”
As Lilly looks to the future, she plans to pursue a graduate degree in forensic psychology.
“This internship has allowed me to grow my skills in reading behaviors and managing interactions, and I am confident these experiences will play a meaningful role in my future career,” Lilly said.
