Final Fall Reflection by CCCN Intern Raelyn Flores

Hello CCCN Community!

As I wrap up my internship with CCCN, I have spent a lot of time reflecting with deep gratitude. This experience has shaped me in many meaningful ways, and I am truly thankful for the opportunity to explore different modalities and learn about prenatal and postpartum support. I want to genuinely thank every person I have met over the past few months. Each conversation, moment of guidance, and shared experience has contributed to my growth as both a student and a person. Through this internship, I have discovered a strong passion for working with families and supporting them in ways that honor their unique experiences.

One of the most memorable and impactful parts of this internship was participating in various job shadowing opportunities. Visiting SLO Cranial, spending time at Beacon Clinic of Chiropractic, and observing Zabrina in her doula work each opened my eyes in new ways. Shadowing Zabrina was especially meaningful. Sitting in on a prenatal meeting and listening to a family speak so honestly about their hopes, worries, and questions was incredibly moving. It reminded me how vulnerable families can feel during such an important time in their lives, and how meaningful it is when someone shows up with patience, care, and genuine understanding. Simply hearing a birth plan and learning what families can expect taught me so much, even in a short amount of time. Seeing doula work up close felt truly special and showed me how powerful empathy-based support can be.

Because I hope to work with military families in the future, witnessing a variety of supportive modalities in action was especially valuable. It deepened my understanding that every family’s needs are unique. Support can be physical, emotional, or something as simple as being present and listening without judgment. I was surprised by how many different forms of support exist and how impactful they can be when tailored to each family’s needs.

Before this internship, I rarely looked beyond campus when thinking about the SLO community. Through CCCN, I was able to attend community events and support groups that I truly treasured. Events like Spotted Whale, Bellies & Babies, and the Halloween community event showed me how strong the family support network is here. There are so many people committed not only to helping children, but also to supporting mothers who are navigating significant physical, emotional, and psychological changes. Watching parents connect, share, laugh, and support each other was incredibly moving. These experiences reminded me how essential community-based programs are in helping families feel seen, understood, and supported.

Another highlight of my internship was writing CCCN’s blog posts! Researching topics such as postpartum depression, safe sleep, and pregnancy and infant loss encouraged me to think more deeply and empathetically. It also changed the way I engage with parents. Instead of focusing solely on the child, I now find myself checking in with mothers more intentionally, asking how they are doing, how they are feeling, and how their overall wellbeing is. Learning about the experiences many families face, as well as the resources available in SLO County, helped me understand these topics not only academically, but also through a lens of compassion. Turning that knowledge into posts that could support, inform, and comfort others felt both meaningful and purposeful, and I am grateful to have contributed to CCCN’s outreach.

Overall, this internship has been much more than a learning opportunity. It has been deeply enriching, eye opening, and heartwarming. When I first started, I was not entirely sure what path I wanted to take. I knew I was interested in working with military families, but this experience strengthened and clarified my passion for supporting all families, especially mothers during prenatal and postpartum journeys. Whether through helping families access resources or being part of their support system, I hope to continue this work with the same care and intention I saw modeled here.

To the next intern following in my footsteps, I hope you take advantage of as many events and shadowing opportunities as you can. Even if something does not seem directly aligned with your path, there is so much value in learning about different modalities and perspectives. I am incredibly thankful for the guidance, opportunities, and connections I have gained through CCCN. As I move forward, I will carry these lessons with me and continue building on everything I have learned here.

Thank you for being part of my journey,

Raelyn Flores