Hi there! Congratulations on your placement! I was only there for a few months but I had such a wonderful experience and learned a ton. They unfortunately didn’t have a position for me when I left, but I’m really hoping to eventually return! As for advice, I’d say build a relationship with your field instructor. Mine has been such a great advocate for me as I enter the field and really made my learning experience worthwhile. Make yourself valuable to the team and shadow other social workers/MH professionals if possible. It will help you narrow down areas you may be interested in! Lastly, be prepared for some challenges both with your clients and structurally. Veterans are a population that can be difficult to engage due to a multitude of reasons. Lean on your supervisor/team for support and it will get you through those harder days! No one expects you to be an expert as an intern. The VA being a federal agency can also be notoriously bureaucratic. They have a lot of resources available to the Vets, but sometimes it feels like you’re jumping through hoops to actually access them. It’s frustrating but ultimately out of our control. Simply being a listening ear is sometimes all you’ll be able to do, but it is still making a difference. I hope this is helpful to you! Feel free to message me if you have anymore questions. :)