🌱 Seeds of Growth: Anaya's CWS Experience

Starting Out: Gaining Independence at Clint Reilly Holdings
Anaya’s CWS journey began at Clint Reilly Holdings, where she worked as the assistant to the receptionist. Her day-to-day responsibilities included greeting visitors, managing front desk tasks, and maintaining an organized workflow. In addition, she wrote short reports on the various pieces of art throughout the building, learning to observe carefully, organize her thoughts, and communicate clearly in writing.

This first placement gave Anaya a sense of independence she hadn’t experienced before, as it was her first formal work setting. She learned how to navigate professional expectations, take initiative, and manage tasks on her own.

Learning by Doing: Building Skills at Bon Appétit Management
At Bon Appétit Management, Anaya took on a hands-on accounting role that challenged her to work independently while managing important organizational tasks. Her supervisor trusted her to handle responsibilities on her own, including basic accounting, filing, and document management. This placement strengthened her attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and ability to stay organized under real-world work demands.

Beyond the technical skills, Bon Appétit helped Anaya discover what kind of work energizes her. While she realized she thrives in dynamic, varied environments, she also gained confidence in her ability to manage responsibilities independently and see projects through from start to finish. This experience showed her that she could handle professional challenges on her own, laying the groundwork for greater confidence in future placements.

Creative Collaboration: Building Confidence at Airbnb
Anaya’s next placement at Airbnb allowed her to explore creativity and teamwork. Working alongside another Student Associate, they collaborated to create internal websites for their respective teams (Financial Reporting and General Accounting). Together they combined their ideas and skills to produce a project that was both functional and visually engaging.

This experience was especially rewarding because Anaya could see the tangible results of her efforts and take pride in her contribution. It also helped her gain confidence and showed her that she was capable of handling complex projects, problem-solving independently, and expressing her ideas in a professional setting.

Taking on Responsibility at the U.S. Probation Office
Anaya’s current placement in the U.S. Probation Office has introduced her to work with a deeper social impact. She is responsible for adding historical case files to their database, making it easier for parole officers to access and track client reports. This role has required her to approach sensitive information with care, while also maintaining efficiency and accuracy.

Through this placement, Anaya is learning how to handle the emotional weight that can come with real-world cases, strengthening her empathy and professionalism. She has gained experience in managing tasks that have a direct impact on other people’s work, preparing her to approach future challenges thoughtfully and responsibly.

"CWS has helped me become more confident and comfortable in taking initiative. I’ve learned that I can tackle challenges on my own and communicate clearly with adults. These experiences have shown me that I am capable, prepared, and ready for what’s next."