Gillian Aftel interns at The Lakeville Journal

LAKEVILLE—Gillian Aftel, 23, of Lakeville joined The Lake-ville Journal July 26 for a summer internship.Aftel is a 2005 graduate of The Hotchkiss School and a 2009 graduate of Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. As an undergraduate, her coursework was focused in the social sciences, with specific concentration on cross-cultural and women’s studies. During her junior and senior years at Union, Aftel’s interest in different cultures led her to travel and study in Thailand, Israel and Egypt. She plans to continue her travels in the future. After graduating from college, Aftel spent time in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, before returning to Lakeville full time. While in Lakeville, she realized her desire to pursue her Master of Science degree in occupational therapy, which was inspired by her grandfather, David Aftel, and his remarkable recovery after suffering a massive stroke. She hopes to attend graduate school in the fall.Aftel has always enjoyed writing and is eager to work at the newspaper and learn more about the field of journalism through a new hands-on experience that she feels she will be able to incorporate into her future pursuits. In addition to her internship, what Aftel refers to as her Summer of New Experiences also includes learning to canoe and water ski on Twin Lakes, and hiking on the Appalachian Trail, all of which have given her a stronger and perhaps new found appreciation for this area. She is the daughter of Jack, an anesthesiologist, and Vickie Aftel, an operating room nurse, at Sharon Hospital. Her sister, Emily Aftel, is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at the University of Connecticut.