Staff Stories - May 28, 2025
By Esha Sarwar
Goodwin Living Intern Esha Sarwar talks about her internship, including how she found the opportunity, her position and the important skills she has learned.
In the fall semester of 2024, I was a Junior at George Mason University—a Business major with a concentration in Management Information Systems. A management class was one of the core classes I had to take for my major. That class eventually led to me becoming a Goodwin Living intern.
The final project for my Management 303 class was to research an organization and analyze its mission and business model. Following the initial research phase, the project’s main objective was to interview a supervisor or executive at the organization. A class member suggested I do the project on Goodwin Living, a not-for-profit, mission-driven senior living and healthcare services organization, because she had just finished her internship there.
As my research progressed, I came to appreciate the Goodwin Living mission to “support, honor and uplift the lives of older adults and those who care for them.”
The next step for the project was to interview the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director at Goodwin House Baily’s Crossroads (GHBC) Catie Ramos. (Catie has since taken on a new role leading the internship program).
During my interview with Catie, she shared information about the culture and standards of Goodwin Living, as well as what it means to be a team member there. Catie also encouraged me to apply for a spring internship at Goodwin Living. After we wrapped up the interview, I immediately realized I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity.
Shortly after submitting my application, I was invited to GHBC for an in-person interview where I spoke with Catie and Volunteer and Communications Coordinator Steffan Barahona. They asked me to talk about why I would be an ideal candidate for the Spring 2025 Administrative Internship. I answered questions about myself and learned about the duties of the position.
A few weeks later, I received an offer letter from Goodwin Living and an email from People Engagement Manager Zoe Marcuse inviting me to the Goodwin Living Orientation (GLO) day. I was overjoyed to be offered the internship! Catie reassured me regarding my assignments, future projects and the flexibility Goodwin Living provides interns.
An important aspect of the Goodwin Living internship is interacting with the residents and engaging with a resident mentor. GHBC resident James Vandeputte was my resident mentor. We met once a week to talk about his professional background, experiences, and any guidance he could share with me.
Caption: Esha meets her resident mentor James at the opening internship ceremony at Goodwin Living
Mentorship is essential during the internship because it helps you learn through others’ life experiences. I learned about James’ career and all the different jobs he had in his past. He encouraged me to start looking into a field of interest. James also reassured me that I don’t have to have a thoroughly planned-out future because there is always time to change my plans if something doesn’t work out. Our conversations also included talking about our cultures and traditions and their similarities and differences.
As a Goodwin Living intern, I gained knowledge and experience from residents and team members. With a friendly and active environment, where everyone is committed to making residents feel included and appreciated, I found the GHBC community in particular to be truly special.
My tasks as an Administrative Intern at GHBC were essential to the team’s everyday operations. I did a lot of work on Microsoft Word and Excel to update and organize materials for the Admin team, including updating the weekly “Manager on Call” documents to ensure everything was correct. I also learned how to use the printer to make copies of hymns for the Chaplain and print other documents as needed. As I grew more at ease in my position, my duties increased to include organizing and setting up an event and creating advertising materials and flyers. I also worked on projects like the Spring 2025 GHBC Directory, where I updated team member and department information. The project entailed emailing the different departments to see if their information was correct, and I made edits accordingly.
Caption: Esha helps GHBC set up prayer spaces for Ramadan
During my internship, I brought my personal experiences into the workplace when I helped set up the Ramadan prayer space and helped plan the third annual Eid celebration at GHBC. I designed a flyer and directional signs inviting team members to use the Ramadan prayer spaces on campus. I also helped set up prayer mats and ensure the space was comfortable for team members.
During my internship, I had the thrilling opportunity to take over the Goodwin Living Instagram. I created and shared stories, reels and other social media content to interact with followers and advance the organization’s goals. Throughout my takeover, I shared my duties during my day as an Admin intern and what was going on at GHBC. I gave viewers a tour of the GHBC building by visiting different departments. My other content consisted of showing a day in my life, which started with coming into the building, making a coffee and checking my emails. You can view this content on the Goodwin Living Instagram @Goodwinliving, so make sure to follow us there!
Caption: Esha helps the GHBC Admin team recruit volunteers
Catie and I tried to increase the visibility of Goodwin Living on social media because we knew how effective it is at reaching younger people. Our volunteer recruitment event at Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) was another perfect way to connect with a younger, more tech-savvy age group. At NVCC Alexandria, I helped the GHBC Admin team set up a table to talk to students and tell them about Goodwin Living as an organization and what volunteering entails.
Residents participate in many activities at GHBC, including attending or organizing different events for the GHBC campus. These events are shared in West Winds, the GHBC weekly newsletter. This helps residents to stay active and engaged each week.
GHBC regularly organizes several community-gathering events to promote a strong sense of belonging. Residents can enjoy fun and festive experiences at events such as the Mardi Gras celebration, which includes a performance from an exciting jazz band and a juggling show. For this celebration, the residents wore beaded necklaces and festive attire. (I also posted about this event on the Goodwin Living Instagram profile!) I also attended the Spring Fling, a resident-led talent show where the residents take full ownership of planning and execution, showcasing their dedication and involvement.
Residents also regularly have opportunities to speak personally with the Goodwin Living President & CEO, guaranteeing their opinions are respected and heard. These gatherings demonstrate how lively and welcoming GHBC is, which makes it a special environment.
My experience as an intern at Goodwin Living has been enlightening and impactful. I’ve watched professionals at work while interning with the Admin Team, which has improved my communication, leadership and organizing abilities.
In addition to preparing me for work in this industry, this experience has expanded my understanding of the value of mentorship, community and work driven by a purpose. If you’re interested in having an amazing intern experience at Goodwin Living, I encourage you to apply on the website and follow Goodwin Living on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn!
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Esha Sarwar is a junior at George Mason University pursuing a business degree with a concentration in Management Information Systems. She moved to the United States at age eight from Pakistan and grew up in the Arlington area. As an Admin Intern at Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads, she helps the Admin Team with day-to-day activities. She has worked on several projects, such as an Intern Social Media Takeover and designing Ramadan flyers. She views the Goodwin Living internship as an incredible way to gain hands-on experience in a work setting, learn from others, and embrace new perspectives.
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