Ohio State internship teaches retail skills while helping cancer patients

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Students studying fashion and retail at The Ohio State University now have a new internship opportunity.

Kristin Paulus is a professor in the department. She said her cancer diagnosis was the driving force behind the creation of the internship program.

Paulus was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago, and as a result, received the full services Ohio State's Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center provides, which landed her at Hope's Boutique. She said that's where the idea was born.

"When you look at Hope's Boutique, it has both ends of the spectrum," Paulus said. "We have that fashion merchandizing track and when you walk into the front end of Hope's Boutique, it's all about retail. So there is merchandizing, there's giftables. It's all about that retail therapy."

Paulus said what's even more special is the back end of the boutique.

"That's where a lot of the personal connectivity is, because that's where people are getting fitted for wigs and getting fitted for prosthetics and getting fitted for bras," Paulus said.

Ohio State sophomore, Sylvia Diaz, said that's the reason why the internship peaked her interest.

"Learning how Hope's Boutique plays a major part in helping women going through treatment look and feel their best, I immediately wanted to get involved," Diaz said.

Ellen Jackson is the manager at Hope's Boutique.

"You have this purpose driven retail, so my whole past was for profit-driven, this margin, this return on investment, but here it's about patient care and that's very unique in retail," Jackson said.

Jackson works directly with the internship students.

"Yes, they're going to get that hands on work experience," Jackson said. "But for me, what's more important is the human experience and that human connectivity, because like it or not, probability is that these young people are going to leave this university and they're going to touch cancer at some point in their lifetime."

Jackson said students learn how to tailor services to specific needs of individuals being treated for cancer, along with simple retail tasks.

"Running the point of sale, restocking, some visual merchandising just to get a different look to the space, use their strengths," Jackson said. "They're bringing in a new idea, new perception of what they think is cool or looks good so we put that to use."

The first student to complete the internship program now uses her skills in her new retail role in Chicago.

"The experience that Hope gives them is an opportunity to connect with people, probably in one of the most challenging chapters of their life," Paulus said. "And if they can develop the skill of enhancing compassion, that's what makes my heart full."

Diaz would be the second student to complete the internship.

"I hope to really just grow and learn and learn a new part of retail that I haven't experienced before," Diaz said.

"Yes, they're going to get that hands on work experience," Paulus said. "But for me, what's more important is the human experience and that human connectivity, because like it or not, probability is that these young people are going to leave this university and they're going to touch cancer at some point in their lifetime."

The internship lasts a full semester, and students are required to have 180 working hours.