Here is a day in my life as a new music therapy intern! Every day’s schedule is different, but here is just what one day looks like.
Please refer to my video reel for the visual aspect of this blog post!
7:30am: Rise and shine! I spent the first half taking time to myself (scrolling on my phone), doing my oral and skincare routine, and going to the bathroom. I got some free coffee from the coffee dispensary in my building. I used to not be a coffee drinker, but now that I am doing my first ever job, I like a little boost of caffeine once in a while.
8am: I am off to the local deli to get my lunch and dinner since I will be having both meals on the job and I know for dinner there won’t be a microwave so I want something that doesn’t need to be heated. I am also restocking my snacks because I love nibbling on something between sessions since I exert a lot of energy and I have a fast metabolism so I get hungry often.
8:30-9:15am: Back at home and I am having breakfast! Afterwards I pack my food and snack bag, get dressed, and I am out the door!
9:45am-12:30pm: Today I am with our beloved senior intern, Leah, at the memory care unit at a retirement community called Fredricka Manor. We did back to back sessions and she also guided me through her note taking process post session
12:30-1pm: Lunch! The sandwich from the deli is delicious and perfect for a quick lunch.
1-2pm: Choir rehearsal!
2-2:15pm: Prep time for the Clavinova class. The Clavinova is an electric piano on steroids!
2:15-3pm: Clavinova class!
3-3:30pm: We are driving to the session at Ivy Park Assisted Living & Retirement Community!
3:30-4:15pm: Session time!
4:15-5:30pm: Drive time and dinner time to tonight’s jam session! Luckily the jam session is so close to sunset cliffs, I was able to enjoy my dinner with a stunning view.
5:30-6:30pm: Setting up for the jam session
6:30-7:30pm Jam session!
7:30-8:30pm: Tear down + debrief with the volunteers. Free pizza to keep the morale going
8:55pm: I have finally gotten home!
11pm: Where has all the time gone?! I caught up with my friends, showered, and now I am off to bed. Goodnight and thanks for spending the day with me!
For context, I was born in Vancouver, Canada but I was raised in Beijing, China and I moved to Boston for my undergraduate degree at Berklee College of Music where I double majored in Music Therapy and Film Scoring. My beloved brother lives in Toronto and my cousins live on the east coast, but the rest of my family are all in China.
Above: My mom, grandparents, cousins, and family dog
Above: My brother and I
I am very lucky that the only thing I have to adapt to once moving to America was the culture, for language was not something I had to worry about. Regardless, I definitely still feel like an outsider in this country, well, because I am an expat after all.
I decided to move to San Diego because MTC seemed like the perfect place for me to do my internship, and my other requirement was I wanted to live in a city and not a small town. I heard great things about San Diego from my American friends, and since I have already lived the east coast life, I knew it was time to try something completely new. My intuition told me it was the right choice although I have never even visited and I have learned to fully trust my intuition these days cause she has never led me wrong.
Truthfully, living alone and being a single woman is not easy in this country but this experience has only made me more resilient, and I am eternally grateful for all the friends and family that have helped me with this cross country move!
July 14, 2025
I GOT ACCEPTED TO THE MTC INTERNSHIP!!! WOOHOOO!!!
July 25, 2025
I signed the lease to my San Diego apartment! Fun fact: as part of my manifestation process, I already began looking at San Diego apartments during the internship application process before I got accepted to really get myself in the right headspace. I scoured Google reviews, Yelp, Tiktok, Instagram, and with the help of the realtor sending me video recordings of the place, I am happy to say I found my perfect apartment.
July 31, 2025
My lease has ended in my Boston apartment! It is time for me to pack it all up with the help of some movers. Huge shoutout to my cousin’s girlfriend for allowing me to store all my boxes in her home in Massachusetts. It was so emotional leaving that place! I know it is time to move on, but goodbyes are always the hardest. Saying goodbye to the people that worked the concierge and the maintenance team was sooo bittersweet.
Above: The view from my old Boston apartment facing the Museum of Fine Arts, one of my favorite spots in the whole city
Above: All my things in storage
September 12, 2025
I spent my last month with my family in Beijing and it is time to fly back to Boston to ship all my things over to San Diego! There is no time to deal with jetlag, I only have a few days to get everything done!
This was my first time coming back to Boston after breaking up with my long term boyfriend, and it felt so difficult being in Boston again and thinking about all the time we spent together. I had to avoid all the familiar parts to prevent myself from feeling sad since I had to get so much done. Thank you to my college friends Zo and Mi Lan for allowing me to crash on their couch.
Above: Mi Lan and Zo. We’ve known each over since freshmen year
Pro tip: UPS was the cheapest and safest way for me to ship all my things cross country! Since I was in Beijing before and I could not make any calls, Uship is great for cross country shipping but it requires organizing it a week or so in advance for the best outcomes. Regardless, UPS managed to ship my springboard mattress cross country and it came undamaged!
Thank you sooo much to my younger cousin Eric and his girlfriend, Marissa, for helping me with the process of shipping everything from Boston!
Above: We popped his trunk and put my mattress on it to bring to UPS’ office.
September 15, 2025
I have landed in San Diego! Pro tip: I have a ‘travel oriented’ credit card so I was able to book my flight with my points which saved me money. My amazing college friend Cindy drove four hours roundtrip from Los Angeles to help me with my first day! Thank you Cindy <3 we went to Target, Ikea, Whole Foods to get all my essentials.
Above: My first view of San Diego! I was so emotional touching down cause I have finally made it here!
September 16-21, 2025
I knew this was gonna come, but I cried every day. It was just a difficult time being by myself and feeling completely alone, having to do every task by myself. I rented a car–they gave me a Ford Escape which felt very American 😛 to get things done. I drove all around the city for Facebook Marketplace pickups, and I lived out of my suitcase these days because I did not have the emotional bandwidth to unpack. I also went around town trying to find the best car to lease, and even socializing with those car dealership guys made me happy to have those interactions with other people.
Thank you so much to the senior intern, Leah, and her husband Ruben for coming over to help me unpack one evening, it helped me so much with the speed of settling in! <33333
September 22, 2025
I picked up my newly leased car!!! I am so proud of myself for negotiating the deal all by myself and I am excited to take my first ever car to all my future adventures!
September 24, 2025
My beloved mattress has arrived all the way from Boston! This is my first time sleeping in a real bed since I left Beijing on September 12th.
September-October 5th, 2025
I tried to use the time before my internship and after I have finished settling into my apartment as a time to make as many new friends as possible! I have been using apps such as Bumble for Friends, gone to events hosted by Newps for girls to make friends, attended a Timeleft event where they pair you with five strangers for dinner, and the good ‘ol fashioned way of talking to strangers at cafes and restaurants. I am so grateful to everyone that has entered my life in this new city and I love continuing to build my own community!
Concluding thoughts:
I knew that this process was going to be physically and emotionally difficult since I was on my own, but I knew it was the best case scenario. My dad is 59, my mom is 55, did I really want them travelling from Beijing to San Diego to help me? No. Thank you to the helping hands along the way: Eric, Marissa, Cindy, Leah, and Ruben. I could not have done this without you all! I am so proud of making this move by myself, and I know I have grown to be so much stronger and wiser after this entire process!
Thank you for taking the time to read a little bit about my journey in life.
As I wrap up my music therapy internship at The Music Therapy Center of California, I’ve found myself reflecting deeply on the experiences that shaped me, both as a clinician and as a person. This internship has been more than just a stepping stone toward professional certification; it’s been a space for transformation, where theory met practice, and where I discovered what kind of music therapist I want to be.
Here are some of my most meaningful takeaways:
1. Regulation Comes Before Communication
One of the most powerful clinical truths I learned was that regulation must come before communication, cognition, or academic learning. Many of the individuals I worked with, especially those with vision impairments, sensory differences, or sensitivity to certain things, could not fully engage until they first felt safe in their environment.
With these clients, music became a co-regulatory tool. Whether through steady rhythmic grounding, familiar musical routines, or vocal mirroring, I learned how to use music as a way to meet clients exactly where they were. This approach helped build trust, reduce distress, and open the door to expressive language and interpersonal connection.
2. STRUCTURE CAN UNLOCK CREATIVITY
Before this internship, I worried that too much structure might limit spontaneity in sessions. What I’ve learned is that for many clients, especially those who experience unpredictability as threatening, structure is what allows creativity to emerge safely.
Predictable musical forms, clear visual cues (e.g. schedules), and repeated routines created a secure framework within which clients felt free to take risks. One of my clients began improvising their own lyrics once they could count on the consistent musical flow. The structure didn’t restrict expression, it unlocked it.
3. Collaboration is a Clinical Skill
Interdisciplinary collaboration was a core part of this internship. I worked alongside speech therapy goals, and other music therapists offering a different lens on the client. Whether it was collecting shared data on communication goals, aligning intervention themes with classroom curriculum, or integrating AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) strategies into music sessions, I learned that collaboration is more than cooperation, it’s a clinical skill in itself, and it is not an easy one! As a student, I was always too afraid to ask for help, or even just a different opinion. “I can do this myself, I don’t need to bother anyone else” was very often my thinking. I am thankful that I learned to break this habit quickly during my internship. Hearing (and asking for) a different perspective on interventions is what made my skills grow most.
4. SIMPLICITY IS POWERFUL
As an intern, I often felt pressure to prove my creativity or clinical range. But time and again, I witnessed how simple, consistent interventions made the biggest impact. A two-chord song with a steady beat. A visual instrument choice board. A familiar “hello” song with a predictable turn-taking pattern.
These “small” things were often the key to participation, especially for students with limited language or regulation challenges. I learned to stop chasing novelty and instead focus on what truly supported the client’s success.
5. Who I Am Matters as Much as What I Do
This internship reminded me that music therapy is more about therapeutic presence than it is about performance. Performance often centers on precision, presentation, and audience reaction, but in therapy, the focus is on connection and responsiveness.
Clients responded not just to what I offered musically, but to the energy I brought into the space. My tone, my openness, my ability to wait, to listen, to respond gently. All of these “non-musical” elements shaped the therapeutic relationship.
I learned to trust myself more, to trust that who I am, when grounded and intentional, is just as therapeutic as the interventions I plan and facilitate. That’s not something you can find in a textbook. It’s something you earn through experience.
Looking Ahead
As I prepare to transition from intern to professional (MT-BC pending), I carry these learnings with me as both tools and touchstones. I’m proud of the work I’ve done, the clients I’ve met, and the moments of growth I’ve shared with my supervisors and colleagues. This internship has shaped the way I see the field, and myself within it.
Music therapy, I’ve learned, is not about fixing anyone. It’s about witnessing, supporting, and making space for what’s already present in someone’s story. That will always be the heart of my work.
Music has been a constant throughout my life. From childhood, it was a source of joy, expression, and connection. Over time, I realized I wanted music to be more than something I loved personally. I wanted to share it in a way that could make a difference for others. Music therapy became the path that allowed me to combine my lifelong passion for music with my desire to help people grow, heal, and connect.
Building the Foundation at SUNY Fredonia
My formal journey in music therapy began at SUNY Fredonia, where I was fortunate to study under outstanding professors who not only taught me the foundations of music therapy but also nurtured my growth as both a musician and future clinician. I am especially grateful to Dr. Heeyoun Cho, Director of Music Therapy, who provided invaluable guidance and modeled the highest standards of clinical practice. I also had the privilege of working closely with my vocal coach, Angela Haas, and pianist, Sandra Leary, who were instrumental in shaping my musical development and providing constant encouragement throughout my studies. Fredonia gave me the tools, knowledge, and confidence to step into the field of music therapy with a strong foundation.
Expanding My Practice in California
After graduating, I moved across the country to complete my internship at the Music Therapy Center of California. This transition was both a challenge and a gift, offering me the opportunity to step outside my comfort zone and fully immerse myself in clinical work. It was during this time that my therapeutic style began to flourish. I witnessed firsthand how music could provide comfort, inspire expression, and create connections for individuals of all ages and abilities. This experience deepened my commitment to the profession and strengthened my belief in the power of music therapy.
Support Along the Way
My journey has been made possible by the unwavering support of family and friends. My lifelong best friends, Ashley and Jason, have been by my side since the beginning, offering encouragement through every milestone. My family has been my foundation: my mother, Irini, my father, Magdy, and my three older brothers, Adam, Amir, and Alex, whose belief in me has always inspired me to keep moving forward.
During my college years, my closest friends and roommates, Sydney, Cailinn, and Helena, were constant motivators and cheerleaders. They supported me through challenges, celebrated achievements with me, and most importantly, helped me discover my true self. They will remain lifelong friends, and I am grateful to know that their presence and encouragement will continue to shape my life beyond college.
I am also deeply grateful to my partner, Justin Chadima, who has been my rock. His support and encouragement help me every day, and his presence continues to strengthen my commitment to this path.
Why I Chose Music Therapy
At its core, my reason for choosing this path is simple. I believe in the power of music to heal, to connect, and to transform. Music therapy allows me to channel this belief into meaningful clinical practice, supporting individuals in discovering new ways of expressing themselves, building confidence, and finding comfort.
Music therapy is more than a career to me. It is a calling shaped by my love for music, my desire to help others, and the steadfast support of the people who have walked beside me. Every client I work with reaffirms my “why”: that music can give voice to emotions when words are not enough, and can offer healing where silence feels too heavy.
Challenge – “Invites someone to engage in a contest”.
As a music therapist intern I have been challenged to a contest of telling stories, educating, and giving people functional skills through music. To let the music and one’s own energy drive the music interventions is the challenge. When the musical intervention has succeeded, the challenge gives me, as a therapist and as a person, great rewards. When an intervention does not go as planned then the challenge is to tweak the intervention so it will be successful.
I am glad I have taken on the challenge of the music therapy profession. It is the most rewarding endeavor I have undertaken.
