Rouda had the most intense and long–lasting placement experience of all the students. She also had a modified experience, which was done to help her get a job in the childcare and to maintain a link with the program in order to provide any needed support. This support was not related to literacy; rather it was related to childcare and personal issues. After volunteering four days a week at different childcare sites for three months, Rouda was put on the supply list and started to be called for paid supply work. Since Rouda volunteered alongside other women who were not in the employment preparation program, she experienced competition and conflict more so than any other student. Rouda described how she learned to distance herself from other volunteers who may have felt threatened by her.

There are a lot of volunteers there. They might say something wrong so they say, 'You and me in competition now.' You know, who is going to get the job and who's not. So you have to be friendly. [I said], 'God knows who is going to get it but I'm a student and I'm leaving anyway.' I don't get upset. No get [me] wrong. Whatever they say, answer whatever you can, otherwise leave alone and go keep on working.

She also learned to withhold comments, and not to confront staff and volunteers if they made mistakes. She said she learned this from Carrie.

My teacher told me about it, you know. Whatever you see, keep it to yourself. Don't say it. Like, if you see something wrong, that person is doing, you cannot say it…I learned something like that. You cannot say nothing about the person, like, 'Why are you doing that?' After that, she might be against you…I was always careful.

In addition, Rouda realized that she would have to learn quickly and remember information while on the placement because the staff would not be as patient as her instructors in the coffee shop. "One time they tell. You can't repeat, repeat, otherwise they think you will never learn." She also thought that repeated questions would indicate that she was not ready to do the job.

One of Rouda's greatest problems was the amount of conflicting information and directions she often received from different staff members.

The child wake up and she no have shoes so the supervisor want to be that child walking down. Another person you have to pick up so two person arguing me. I'm in the middle. Supervisor in the front so one staff telling me, 'Rouda, pick up that child.' I pick up that child. Another staff telling me, 'Rouda, put down that child.' I put down that child. I don't know what I have to do. So I am in the middle. I am getting stressed. We go outside and after that when the meeting come, the supervisor said, 'No listen those two, and listen to me.' How I can listen? She's far away and these two are playing with my head. Which one I have to listen? I am a student here. I lost. I don't know what I have to do.