Making An Impact On The Lives of Others

Mentors have played a large role in Nico Cochetti’s life, so he decided early on that he wanted to make the same impact in the lives of others. He has fulfilled this goal already through his service learning projects, his internship, and his work at a local human services organization. He plans to continue on this path after he graduates with his degree in Human Services. 

This semester, Nico began his internship at CAPTAIN Community Human Services in Clifton Park, specifically at Cheryl’s Lodge, a community outreach center in Halfmoon Heights that offers programming for children, families, and seniors. There, he helps children and teenagers with their homework during afterschool support programs. As he assists them in subjects including English, math, and science, he also listens to them talk about any challenges they are having.

Growing up, Nico had developmental disabilities, and remembers how he was helped through mentors, teachers, his family, and through occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy programs offered at school. “I always had an interest in helping people,” he said. “I had a lot of mentor figures throughout my life and I want to be like that to somebody else.”

Nico has had so much success at Cheryl’s Lodge that his internship turned into a part-time job and he was recently offered a full-time job as a Youth Development Specialist after he graduates. His work there has helped him to decide that he wants to continue working with children and young adults.

Nico also worked with youngsters as part of his service learning project in his Interpersonal and Group Dynamic course where he and his team members visited Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region and led the girls in a birdhouse making project and held a pizza party for them. “It was great getting involved with the community again because I did that when I was in high school through the male mentoring club that I was a member of for four years called X-Factor,” he said. “We held food drives, yard cleanups, Toys for Tots Drives, and helped at the City Mission of Schenectady."

This fall, Nico plans to continue working for CAPTAIN while he also pursues his bachelor’s degree in Community and Human Services through Empire State University. Reflecting on his experience so far and how he will approach his career in human services, Nico shared, “From my own experiences, it’s good to work in this field with an open mind, patience and compassion.”