Author: Mihika (Child Guidance Counsellor) | 13th September 2025
Entrusted with mentoring Brundavani during her internship, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own path, from being an intern at NRF myself, to stepping into professional responsibilities, and eventually guiding new learners.
Being a student of a professional course, Advanced Diploma in Child Guidance and Counselling, it was mandatory for me to do a final internship in order to officially finish the course. When I began my internship at The Neuroaid and Research Foundation (NRF), I expected to gain practical exposure and skills, meet the requirements of the course, and move on. What I didn’t know at the time was that my internship at The Neuroaid and Research Foundation (NRF) would not only launch my career but also become the place where I would grow from being a student, to a professional, and eventually, to someone who could guide others.
Learning Under Guidance- The Intern Phase
As an intern at NRF, I stepped into a world that was new, complex yet deeply inspiring. The Neuroaid Rehab, a centre under The Neuroaid and Research Foundation is a multi-rehabilitation centre dedicated to supporting children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disabilities and a wide spectrum of emotional needs, exposed me to the multidisciplinary nature of rehabilitation.
During my time as an intern, I spent my time observing the sessions, taking notes across various therapeutic interventions Occupational Therapy (OT), Speech-Language Pathology (SLP), Special Education and Counselling, as my mentors guided me through the intricacies of child development and therapy. With each observation, I acknowledged the complexity of rehabilitation and the dedication it demands.
At this stage, I was still a student , dependent on my supervisors, learning under their watchful eyes, and absorbing knowledge like a sponge.
Taking Responsibility- The Professional Phase
Life had its own plans. Somewhere between shadowing sessions, discussing cases with professionals, and seeing children take their first steps or speak new words, I realised I didn’t want this to be the end of my journey with NRF.
What started as a short internship turned into a full-fledged career opportunity. Today, I am part of the very team I once observed. I am no longer just watching, I am contributing, learning, and growing as a salaried professional in the same space that shaped my early career dreams.
The day I joined NRF as a salaried professional was filled with excitement but also with the realisation that my role had fundamentally changed. As an intern, I was a learner under guidance; as a professional, I was now accountable for outcomes, decision-making, and direct involvement with families. This transition brought new challenges. Managing time and balancing multiple cases, administrative tasks, and professional commitments simultaneously became crucial. From learning in a classroom to building professional confidence was another important step. The most challenging, yet vital, adjustment was, perhaps, maintaining emotional balance, as working closely with children and families brought both immense fulfilment and the emotional weight of their struggles.
And then came one of the most unique shifts, my mentors became my colleagues. The very people I had once looked up to and learned from, I am now sitting beside them and collaborating as equals. This change required a delicate adjustment of its own. I had to learn how to see them not just as teachers but as peers, contributing alongside them with confidence, while still carrying the deep respect I held for their guidance.
These changes did not always come comfortably, but they were crucial to growing into my new role.
Guiding the Next Generation- The Mentor Phase
With time, I also got the opportunity to guide psychology intern Ms Y.S. Brundavani who came to NRF for their internships. This role was meaningful in its own way. Stepping into it made me reflect on my own internship days , the curiosity, the uncertainty, and the eagerness to learn. As a mentor, I found myself sharing not just knowledge but also experiences, the practical insights, the challenges, and the joys that come with working in this field.
Mentoring was both humbling and rewarding. It reminded me of my own beginnings and showed me how far I had come, from being the one shadowing the therapists to now shaping someone else’s learning experience. Passing on the lessons I had received, both professional and personal, felt like the most meaningful way to honour the mentorship I had once been given.
Looking Back, Moving Forward
My journey at NRF taught me that internships are not just boxes to tick off on the way to a degree. They can be transfromative experiences that open doors you didn’t even know existed. For me, NRF was the door and stepping through it has been the best decision of my professional life.
I arrived as an intern seeking knowledge. I stayed as a professional driven by passion. And over time, I even had the chance to guide new interns , a rewarding way of continuing the cycle of learning. As I move forward, I carry with me the belief that every small step here contributes to a brighter future for the children we serve.