Service & Work Experience

Showing up for my neighborhood.

810+ volunteer hours across multiple organizations — plus customer-service experience at Walgreens.

Work Experience

Customer Service

Walgreens

June 2026 – Present · 240 hours

Serve customers at the front register, assist shoppers with product location and recommendations, process returns and exchanges, and support daily store operations in a fast-paced retail environment.

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Impact

Builds strong communication, problem-solving, and time-management skills while serving a diverse customer base in English and Spanish.

Reflection

"Retail has taught me that every interaction matters — whether it's helping someone find the right product or simply greeting them with patience on a busy day. It's a different kind of service, but it still comes down to listening well and treating people with dignity."

Volunteer

Mental Health Advocacy Intern

Mental Health Association of Central Florida — The Outlook Clinic

June 2026 – Present · 80 hours

Shadowed and supported the clinical outreach team at The Outlook Clinic, observing patient intake, mental-health education programming, and the day-to-day realities of community psychiatry in Central Florida.

A look inside my internship at The Outlook Clinic

With the clinical outreach team at The Outlook Clinic

Community impact

Gained direct exposure to the psychiatric care pathway — from first contact and intake to treatment planning — while contributing to outreach materials and patient resources that help families feel welcomed and informed.

Reflection

"This internship is reaffirming my passion for psychiatry every week. Watching clinicians meet people with patience and precision, seeing how trust is built appointment by appointment, and understanding the systems that surround a diagnosis has only made me more certain that this is the career I want to keep building toward."

Youth Leader, Conectados

Family Church — Lakeside Campus

January 2024 – Present · 390 hours

Plan and facilitate youth meetings for Conectados, a group that began with 12 students and grew to more than 25 teenagers. Guide students through activities such as Testimony Night, gender-based small groups to talk about their specific needs, and worship nights that promote emotional, social, and spiritual development. Create a safe environment where peers feel comfortable assisting, enjoying, and participating in activities while building new and healthy relationships.

Conectados Christmas gathering with the youth group

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Community impact

Encouraged positive peer relationships and community involvement as the youth group grew from 12 to 25+ teenagers through consistent programming.

Reflection

"Leading Conectados has shown me that emotional safety is the first step toward growth. When teenagers feel seen, heard, and supported, they open up, build healthier friendships, and discover that community can be a powerful source of strength."

Vice President & Mentor

Empower Teens United

2025 – Present · 90 hours

Direct mentorship programming, co-plan community events, and personally mentor high school students through college planning and personal development.

Empower Teens United Leader of the Month recognition for Nicole Pina Fernandez

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Recognized as Empower Teens United Leader of the Month — June 2026

Source: Instagram

Community impact

More than 100 students impacted through workshops, college tours, and volunteer activities.

Recognition

"I am incredibly proud of our Vice President, Nicole. Every day she proves that she was the right person to join our organization. With every task, activity, and responsibility she takes on, she exceeds expectations and continues to grow as a leader. With professional goals that include earning a doctoral degree and a bright future ahead, we are honored to witness her journey. Every recognition and achievement she has earned is the result of her hard work, discipline, and perseverance. Nicole has earned every one of them. I also want to recognize her parents, who have done an outstanding job supporting her and providing the tools she needs to navigate an increasingly complex world. The greatest legacy we can leave our children is not just an education, but preparation for life, strong character, discipline, and the confidence to pursue their dreams. Nicole is proof that when talent meets hard work and the right support system, there are no limits to what can be achieved."

Reflection

"Mentorship is where leadership stops being a title and starts being a weekly commitment."

Vice President

Interact Club — Windermere High School

2025 – May 2026 · 70 hours

Coordinate donation drives and service projects — toys, food, and back-to-school supplies for local families in need.

Interact Club service project highlights — Windermere High School.

Interact Club members and faculty sponsors after our closing presentation

Presenting our weekly Eight Waves volunteering commitment

Community impact

Multiple full drives organized each school year with dozens of student volunteers.

Reflection

"Small, repeated acts of service are what actually change a community — not one big event a year."

Selected Delegate

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)

2026

Selected by Rotary International to attend RYLA, an intensive leadership development camp for high-potential young leaders committed to service.

At RYLA with Rotary District 6980 — The Four-Way Test

RYLA selection interview with Rotary leaders

Community impact

Engaged in collaborative leadership training, team-building challenges, and service-project planning alongside other selected student leaders across the region.

Reflection

"RYLA reminded me that leadership is not about being the loudest voice in the room — it is about listening, adapting, and bringing people together around a shared purpose."

Guest Experience Volunteer

Family Church — Lakeside Campus

2021 – Present · 180 hours

Prepare and serve snacks and coffee to welcome guests every Sunday and on the last Saturday of each month. Help set up the hospitality area, greet arriving families, and create a warm first impression for newcomers and regular attendees alike.

Nicole volunteering with the Guest Experience team at Family Church — Lakeside Campus — Source: Instagram

Community impact

Contributed to a welcoming environment that helps guests feel at home from the moment they walk in — often the first face families see at church.

Reflection

"Hospitality taught me that service can be quiet and still matter deeply. A cup of coffee and a genuine greeting can make someone feel like they belong before they even sit down."

Dancer

Templo Dance Academy — SDP Movement

September 2022 – May 2025

Committed 3+ years to learning jazz, contemporary, commercial, ballet, and hip hop techniques as a key team member. Explored the mind-body connection and its importance to well-being. Competed in the 2025 Competition Series of the reality show World of Dance, winning 4th place out of 15 teams, and discovering that discomfort means growth. Participated in over six professional performances over the course of three years to celebrate culture, seasons, and the academy’s anniversaries.

Performance highlight with Templo Dance Academy — SDP Movement.

Watch the performance highlight on Instagram

Community impact

Developed discipline, resilience, and the ability to perform under pressure while celebrating culture and creativity through dance.

Reflection

"Dance taught me that growth lives on the other side of discomfort — and that the body, like the mind, needs patience, practice, and community to thrive."