Rusch Spending Summer As Community Service Officer In Colorado

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Senior Margaret Rusch of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women's track and field team headed west for the summer to intern as a community service officer in Estes Park, Colorado.

Estes Park is a town in northern Colorado that is a base for Rocky Mountain National Park. The national park features miles of trails and is home to lots of wildlife, including elk and bears.

Rusch, a criminal justice major, has been able to learn a lot while working as a community service officer. Each day at Estes Park brings different experiences, and Rusch has been able to enjoy her time in the Colorado Rockies as well by hiking, camping, and swimming.

Rusch shared some of her experiences at the internship below:

What is your internship position?

Community Service Officers serve as ambassadors in the downtown corridor of Estes Park. We perform a variety of duties, including traffic safety, animal control, lost and found property, and special events. We are also the first on scene at medical emergencies and accidents that occur downtown.

How did you hear about the internship and what was the hiring process like?

I discovered this internship while searching for summer jobs on Indeed. After filling out the online application I completed a panel interview over Zoom and was subsequently hired. 

What skills have you learned at your internship?

A few of the skills I'm honing include conflict resolution, patience, adaptability, and interpersonal skills. I am also learning how to write reports, patrol, correctly store property, and proper radio communication. Working closely with police officers has helped me develop skills necessary for working in law enforcement.

Part of the training for this internship required us to be pepper sprayed in the eyes and nose and then perform a series of exercises including punching, kicking, and baton work. That was the most painful thing I have ever experienced but cool to say I've done it.

What can you take from this internship to carry over into your athletic career at UW-Platteville?

Working as a Community Service Officer has forced me out of my comfort zone in many ways. It requires interaction with all different types of people, while helping enforce the law to keep people safe. No day is ever the same when working in law enforcement and we are often required to step up as leaders and think fast on our feet. Gaining experience in this type of environment will help me be a better leader on the team. Working in law enforcement requires confidence and a strong mindset - track and field is the same way. You can lose a race or not PR on lack of confidence alone. This internship has helped me develop a stronger mentality which can only help me on the track. 

Have you enjoyed the internship so far?

Yes! This internship has been so enjoyable, and I love going to work every day. Being a Community Service Officer in Estes Park has provided me with the most incredible experiences, wonderful new friends, and invaluable knowledge.

Anything else you would like to mention about the internship? 

Living and working in Colorado has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. On my days off I get to go hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park and explore the surrounding mountain towns. So far, I have climbed Longs Peak (the deadliest Fourteener in Colorado), gone camping in the wildflower capital of the country (Crested Butte, Colorado), seen a baby bear and elk right outside my apartment window, watched the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets from atop a mountain, swam in the turquoise waters of several alpine lakes, and been able to gain so many other incredible experiences.