School internships offer a unique opportunity for students to explore fields they might not have considered. Some students go through their high school career with very little, and even in some cases, no work experience. Internships can give students a bit of an edge with experience they need to boost them into the job market.
“People who have internships do not necessarily go into that job, but it helps them to identify what they like/do not like about particular careers, so internships can be immensely beneficial,” CKHS counselor Michelle Sotelo said.
Beyond career prep, internships can help build confidence by providing students with the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge to real life situations. This can help them realize they can not only meet the challenges but also excel.
“Any experience a student can get to learn more about a career field and industry is great, it is the only way to know for sure if it is something they want to do,” CKHS career coordinator Tyler Hunt said.
It may seem like students are simply being thrown into an internship, but that isn’t the case. Counselors regularly check in with students and make sure things are moving smoothly. Internship coordinator Michelle Shuster provides this type of support for students here at CKHS.
“Setting up high school internships involves finding companies willing to host interns, creating clear guidelines, and matching students to opportunities based on their interests and skills,” Shuster said. “I also prepare students for interviews, provide support throughout the internship, and gather feedback afterward to improve the program.”
These opportunities not only benefit the students, but they are also beneficial to the company the student is interning for. Students can put forward new ideas, perspectives, and more help with projects.
“An internship is valuable for the organization/company/business because they can have someone bring new ideas and do work,” Sotelo said. “It is also valuable to the intern to gain perspective and experience on work expectations.”
Currently, there are a few internships available that students can sign up for. One of these intern opportunities includes the Horizon Air summer internship, which will give students the chance to experience flight operations and maintenance. Though there are limited internship opportunities, more are on their way. Students interested can check their grade level google classrooms, email Shuster, or find the bulletin board in front of the counseling center for more information.
“We are always working to develop new internships based on student interest and the support we receive from employers,” Shuster said. “As we gather feedback and see what areas students are passionate about, we continue to create opportunities that align with their goals and the needs of our partner organizations.”
