My name is Joel (Jo-L) Eulo. I am a rising senior concentrating in data science at Babson College, located just outside of Boston, and a New York City native. Every summer during college, I come home to Queens. This summer, my goal was to find at an internship in New York with a non-profit committed to social good. And that is exactly what I accomplished. Maria Chelko, Communications Director at The Eye-Bank, hired me as a Communications Intern where my primary responsibility would be to assist with a special project working with corneal transplant recipients.
What did I already know about Eye Donation?
Before working at The Eye-Bank, I didn’t know that such an organization existed and was oblivious to the eye donation process. I believed that when a person passed away, the government and the hospital took care of organ and tissue donation. My internship revealed a new reality. I learned that organizations like The Eye-Bank are independent non-profits. The Eye-Bank has two parts that work together in parallel. First is the Ocular Laboratory staffed by laboratory technicians committed to recovering donor eye tissue 24 hours day. Once tissue is recovered, the technicians prepare it for corneal transplants that deliver the gift of sight to patients who have been diagnosed with a cornea injury or disease. The second part of The Eye-Bank focuses on public and professional education. These departments put a great deal of effort into programs that promote the overall mission of The Eye-Bank, which is to restore sight to New Yorkers in need. During my internship, this is where I found the most joy in sharing the heartwarming stories of those who donate, and those who receive.
What did I do during my internship?
Early in my internship I met Nancy, the wife of an eye donor, which set the tone for the whole summer. As part of the production crew that filmed Nancy’s testimonial video, I heard the story she told about her beloved husband, Dave. She recounted memories of her husband and shared the immense impact he had on his community as a teacher and a father. As we wrapped up, I could see the pride in her eyes that her husband continued to give back, restoring sight to two individuals when he passed away.
Later in the summer, as I became more involved in the special project, I had the opportunity to connect with a cornea recipient, Jamal, who was beyond grateful to receive the gift of his corneas, because it allowed him to see his newborn child. This was the moment I understood the full impact that The Eye-Bank has on people’s lives. The organization provides comfort and healing for others and improves people’s quality of life.
Though I was working in the Communications Department doing volunteer outreach for The Eye-Bank, I am a data science concentration at heart. I started to wonder how I could apply data analysis to my Eye-Bank work. Fortuitously, the project that was handed to me included a large dataset that I could analyze to help make our work more efficient. I was pleased to be able to pursue a personal ambition while simultaneously gathering experience with volunteer outreach and storytelling.
As I leave my internship and head back to school, I am feeling very grateful for my time at The Eye-Bank. To be able to work in an environment that gives back directly to New Yorkers, to the people we pass by every single day, is an experience I will always cherish. As I continue to grow as a professional, I want always to remember the impact that an organization can have on the lives of others. The work we do together can last a lifetime in someone’s eyes.