Student trainee impacts: Ernesto Marquez Montes

Student trainee impacts: Ernesto Marquez Montes

CDHD student trainees play an important role in the positive impact the Center has on our state. This program is integral to our mission of ensuring everyone can live, learn, work and play in their communities by teaching future professionals how to serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  

This program also offers students the opportunity to jumpstart their careers through real job experience that hones a professional skillset they can apply to any path they decide to take. From graduate school to education, administration to engineering, disability support to tourism and hospitality – the knowledge and experience these students gain is universal.

This is certainly what we’re finding out as we sit down with past trainees as part of a new series to catch-up on where they’re at now. Past trainee Grace Vitek shared how her time at the CDHD helped prepare her for her journey to become a teacher in remote Alaska. We also had a chat with Ernesto Marquez Montes, who worked with us from 2018 to 2021 while pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Psychology at University of Idaho.

Hello, Ernesto! It is great to see you again. It’s been a little while since we last talked, but what year did you graduate?

Ernesto: Oh gosh. 2021, I believe. In December.

It’s already been that long? It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long.

Ernesto: Yeah, right? Time is going by way too quickly.

Ok! Well, do you remember what projects you worked on?

Ernesto: Yes. I worked on the Act Early Idaho project. I did the artAbility project for two years. Before that, I worked on the Idaho Living Well project.

Nice! A good variety of projects. What do you remember most about the CDHD or your time at the CDHD?

Ernesto: I most remember the people that I go to work with and the community members that I got to serve. I think the people that I connected with there made a very long-lasting impact on my life. I remember them the best.

What do you miss about your time at the CDHD?

Ernesto: I would say the people on this one as well. I think the people there are so amazing. It’s very satisfying to be working alongside people who care very deeply about the work they do and improving the lives of everybody. That, to me, is very motivating.

That’s great! It’s always wonderful when you can work in a positive environment that you find motivating. Are there any specific skills that you picked up at the CDHD that helped you through postgrad or your career?

Ernesto: I would say my people skills were definitely honed a little bit more during my time as a trainee at the CDHD. And those, I have been able to transfer over to my undergrad work – the clinical work I did there – and the role I’m doing now.

Would you recommend the trainee program to a current student? Why or why not?

Ernesto: Absolutely I would. I wholeheartedly feel that this program provides such a diverse training that is beneficial to anybody regardless of what field or career they go into because disability is universal. But also, I think the perspectives that it grants are very valuable. There’s lots of opportunities for professional development, developing interpersonal skills, social skills, and it’s just an overall good mission to work on.

Yeah – did you find as a student that it was a soft landing pad, or a good introduction to professional life?

Ernesto: Yes, definitely. I think for myself, being first generation and not having exposure to other professional development, I feel that the experience that I had there really helped me develop some of the more professional office skills that I would need. I’m applying those a lot to this day.

That’s great! Are there any people at the CDHD who inspired you or supported you while you were pursuing your degree or subsequent career. If so, who?

Ernesto: I would say Olivia. She inspired me the most. Her passion for what she does is so moving. She has always been so available to listen and get to know her trainees. I think that’s super valuable. She was the one who suggested that I look into genetic counseling, and I was very intrigued by it after she mentioned it. I don’t think I had ever heard about it. I went on to pursue my degree in that. I would never have known if she hadn’t mentioned that to me.

It’s so great when these little things come out. It’s cool that your experience with Olivia helped progress your career in that way.

Ernesto: Yeah.

What would you say to a current student to get them to apply for the trainee program?

Ernesto: I would say you get paid! I feel like, as a student, that is always helpful. Flexible working hours – the program is very understanding of students’ busy schedules. That can be very helpful. Aside from that, there are opportunities to connect with various professionals, community members, learn professional skills, and, again, disability is universal. I think everyone should learn about it at one point or another.

I like it! And what would you say were the biggest benefits for you, as a student, working at the Center?

Ernesto: To me, the biggest benefit was getting to meet all of the various professionals that work at the Center. Mostly because I don’t think I had ever realized how many different careers there could be. That really widened my understanding of the field.

Excellent – aside from your professional pursuits, has the CDHD impacted your life in any other way?

Ernesto: Yes. I went on to do a LEND training because I realized I wanted to continue learning about disability advocacy and disability work. That has continued to shape my perspective on life and the field of genetics. I think it changes the way I conduct myself in genetic counseling sessions. It has also changed the way I perceive life, aging and disability overall.

It’s amazing to see how this time the trainees spend in the program impacts them in so many different and profound ways. It’s wonderful to hear. You’ve touched on your career a little bit here, which leads to my next question. What is your current role, including your job title.

Ernesto: Right now, I am an agency affiliate counselor. I’ve been working here for about a year now. The work I’m really doing is children and family counseling in a community mental health nonprofit organization.

Nice – can you provide a little bit of an overview of your role and the people it impacts?

Ernesto: The role itself consists predominantly of talk therapy. I work with children and teenagers, doing mental health services. We do some case management work, making sure children and their families are well supported – sometimes finding them resources they need.

You predominantly work with children and families?

Ernesto: Yes – anyone from the ages eight to 20.

How do you feel this work benefits or impacts your community?

Ernesto: I feel like mental health, especially right now, is super important. I think there’s a lot of information and media bombardment that is impacting people’s mental health. Often times the people who are most vulnerable are least able to afford care. Here, we provide, usually free services to all of our clients. We work predominantly with low-income individuals. It’s good to be able to provide in-person supports, listen to people’s problems and help them cope with that day-to-day.

That’s very cool – what inspired you to take on this role?

Ernesto: I think I was inspired by needing to get a job [laughs] but I’ve really learned to love it. I can see myself staying here for a couple more years. I would say after graduating from my graduate program, I realized that health care these days is still very transactional. Even genetic counseling – not in all specialties – but that made me pause where I really wanted to go after I got my degree. It made me want to pursue a job where I could see myself having an impact on people’s lives. Here I get to see people consistently and see their growth. That’s very fulfilling for me.

Yeah, you get to see that direct impact.

Ernesto: Yeah

And would you say that is the most rewarding part of your role, or are there other parts that you find rewarding?

Ernesto: Yes. I would say getting to see people grow and cope with their struggles, helping them learn to cope and empower each other – that to me is so fulfilling. That is why I really love this job.

That’s excellent, Ernesto. Finding fulfillment in a professional capacity can be difficult, and it’s great to hear that you’ve found it in such an impactful way. How do you think the CDHD helped you prepare for this role? If at all.

Ernesto: Mostly some of the professional development in talking to people of diverse backgrounds. Other professionals, other self-care providers, community members, students, people of all ages, their parents – all of those interpersonal skills have transferred over and helped me become a better communicator.

Nice! It’s always those soft skills that nobody expects, right?

Ernesto: Yes – exactly!

How do you feel your time at the CDHD contributed to your success?

Ernesto: I think for me, because I find a lot of fulfillment in being able to find a purpose for the work I’m doing and having a mission, I feel like getting to work at the CDHD and having a collaborative goal of supporting a demographic really empowered me to continue to seek something like that out. It has overall helped me end up in this role.

That’s great! Do you think you would have been prepared to step into this role without your time at the CDHD? Why or why not?

Ernesto: I feel like that’s a difficult question to answer mostly because I would like to think I could get here on my own. The CDHD has really played a huge role in my development. I don’t know if I would have had the same opportunity for the growth that prepared me for this role without it.

That’s so great to hear, Ernesto. We are so glad to not only see you on your professional path but also finding success and fulfillment as you go. Thank you for your time and sharing your story with us.

 

Check out the CDHD student trainee webpage for more information about the student trainee program, or contact Olivia Lebens at olebens@uidaho.edu.