Abby Fusco and her Internship Journey.
It’s no secret that a good mentor can make all of the difference in a young person’s life.
Abby Fusco and her Internship Journey.
By Alyssa Quackenbush
Internships aren’t uncommon, but in rising MHS senior Abby Fusco’s case, an internship with Stacy Padula O'Halloran has been a notably unique experience. Not only for her age but for the work she’s been doing for Stacy.
Abby and Stacy met during the 2018-19 school year when Abby was a junior doing standardized testing prep. Stacy, her tutor, is also an author and publisher. Her most recent series, “Gripped,” is the focal point of Abby’s internship.
Image source: https://stacyapadula.com/order-autographed-books/
Over the phone, Stacy described Abby as somebody who feels good doing a lot; whether it’s sports, schoolwork, work, or anything in between, Abby is eager to fill her time being productive. So, naturally, when Stacy brought up the internship program she runs, Abby was happy to participate.
Especially considering that Abby started interning for Stacy at the beginning of quarantine when everything else had come to a halt, this internship allowed Abby to spend her time doing something that is not only helpful to Stacy but makes for super beneficial experiences for Abby moving forward. Basically, for this internship, Stacy has teens read through her books and write article responses to them, which she uses as feedback and publishes on the books’ website and the sites of third-party vendors such as Amazon.
Abby is not the only intern that Stacy has ever had. She has mentored several kids over the years, all of whom have gained imperative life experience and strengthened skills under Stacy’s mentorial wing.
But being impressed with Abby’s writing for SAT practice essays and seeing her potential and drive caused Stacy to jump on the opportunity to work alongside and mentor Abby.
Abby’s passions lie right on the intersection between business and art. Over the phone, she mentioned how she wants to go to school for business, ideally at her dream school Villanova University, all while she holds the arts near to her heart. She’s used drawing and painting as an outlet and even runs her own pet portrait business called ARF Pet Portraits, which Stacy helped to get rolling. So having found her voice through writing with the help and encouragement of her mentor has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for self-expression in all facets of her life.
Photos from Painting for a Cause. Used with Permission of ArfPetPortraits.com.
Photos from Painting for a Cause. Used with Permission of ArfPetPortraits.com.
The experience that Abby has gained from doing this internship with Stacy really sets her apart. Having had the opportunity to work closely with Stacy for months, she’s been able to really hone in on who she is and how to communicate that through writing. As Abby begins the college application process, she has a major advantage due to her experience and hard work. Not only will it be great resume material, but she can confidently move forward in this new chapter of her life with some serious real-world knowledge to help guide her through any challenges and triumphs. Having this mentor-mentee relationship sets her up for success.
We welcome you to tell us about some of your best experiences with your mentor.