HTHMA Magazine Article
High Tech High Media Arts is launching a new magazine lead by my honors Humanities teacher Randy Sheerer. For one of my honors assignments I had to pitch an idea and write an article for the magazine. We had a rubric to make we are producing good work but had the freedom to choose what we would like to write about with Randy's approval. Below is my article for the HIgh Tech HIgh Media Arts magazine about internship.
Why does High Tech High have an internship program? Every junior in the High Tech High village has the opportunity to gain career related experience, explore professional interests, enhance personal development and develop a polished work portfolio during a one month internship. Eleventh grade students who attend High Tech High International and High Tech High Media Arts have their internships throughout the month of January and students at High Tech High have their internships throughout the month of June, ensuring equal opportunities for specific internships throughout the villages. Some students, parents and others outside of High Tech High think that this month is a waste of time. However, there are many good reasons why internships will be beneficial and help students step out of their comfort zone and achieve high reaching goals.
Once becoming a junior at High Tech High Media Arts, internship is always in the back of my mind. Whenever I tried to picture myself at an internship I feared that I would not learn from it. However, after the first few weeks of internship x-block, I realized my biggest challenge in choosing an internship would be picking one that could relate to a future career. I am someone who loves to learn and wants to be a million things when I grow up. Ideally, I would love to be a teacher, dance instructor, photographer, fashion buyer and a wedding planner all in one. I am interested in so many different things and internship gives me the opportunity to choose one and explore it on a deeper level. I can gain experience, both professionally and personally, which will help me determine if this is the career path for me.
The best place to find information about the pros and cons of internship is the senior class. I asked the seniors in my advisory, “What is the best thing about internship?” They replied that the biggest “takeaway” was that the learned to adapt to different working environments. For example, one student learned that they do not like working in an office setting because the space did not allow her to be creative and inspired. Another student learned that an office setting was perfect for his more controlled style of work. Each of these shows the benefits of new challenges and opportunity. I want all of my classmates to explore their interests within a career field that they are passionate about and find a mentor within an organization where they can be exposed to additional job possibilities. However, internship does not end there. Exploring different options after this can help you determine which type of work environment best fits your personality and character.
The most important aspect of internship is enhancing personal growth and development. I intend to learn a lot about myself during internship including how I adapt to new situations and challenges. Students should use this time towards clarifying their diversions, strengthening skills and identifying the areas where they need to improve as students and employees. Gaining experience in the workplace can also help improve your critical thinking, problem solving, innovation and interpersonal communication. Additionally, leadership abilities will be evidenced as you become an expert in your field of choice.
High Tech High spends a lot of time and effort preparing students for college and the real world. Internship is essential in helping students determine their next steps after high school. Participating in this internship experience will not only help you personally but will help shape a professional and polished portfolio for later in life. Internship is something that you can put on your resume and include in your cover letter and college application essays. Students in the past have received letters of recommendations for college from their mentors and some have landed a paid job with the company based on this. By documenting your internship achievements you are providing examples of your responsibilities, performance and range of skills. Just think, as a high school graduate you will have a professional portfolio that many seniors have not even started yet.
Internship was created to allow students to gain career related experience, explore professional interests, enhance personal development and create an expert portfolio. Students who discussed their participation in internship in the student journal Ampersand Volume 5, the most recently edition published in 2012 by junior students at High Tech High Media Arts said “I learned to be self sufficient and had to get things done on my own which proved to myself that I can handle these difficult task my mentor was asking me to do.” I would highly suggest that all juniors read Ampersand, as it opened my eyes to new things to look forward to and how to overcome some potentially challenges. I have found that most juniors do not have any regrets with internship because it is a learning experience.
Why does High Tech High have an internship program? Every junior in the High Tech High village has the opportunity to gain career related experience, explore professional interests, enhance personal development and develop a polished work portfolio during a one month internship. Eleventh grade students who attend High Tech High International and High Tech High Media Arts have their internships throughout the month of January and students at High Tech High have their internships throughout the month of June, ensuring equal opportunities for specific internships throughout the villages. Some students, parents and others outside of High Tech High think that this month is a waste of time. However, there are many good reasons why internships will be beneficial and help students step out of their comfort zone and achieve high reaching goals.
Once becoming a junior at High Tech High Media Arts, internship is always in the back of my mind. Whenever I tried to picture myself at an internship I feared that I would not learn from it. However, after the first few weeks of internship x-block, I realized my biggest challenge in choosing an internship would be picking one that could relate to a future career. I am someone who loves to learn and wants to be a million things when I grow up. Ideally, I would love to be a teacher, dance instructor, photographer, fashion buyer and a wedding planner all in one. I am interested in so many different things and internship gives me the opportunity to choose one and explore it on a deeper level. I can gain experience, both professionally and personally, which will help me determine if this is the career path for me.
The best place to find information about the pros and cons of internship is the senior class. I asked the seniors in my advisory, “What is the best thing about internship?” They replied that the biggest “takeaway” was that the learned to adapt to different working environments. For example, one student learned that they do not like working in an office setting because the space did not allow her to be creative and inspired. Another student learned that an office setting was perfect for his more controlled style of work. Each of these shows the benefits of new challenges and opportunity. I want all of my classmates to explore their interests within a career field that they are passionate about and find a mentor within an organization where they can be exposed to additional job possibilities. However, internship does not end there. Exploring different options after this can help you determine which type of work environment best fits your personality and character.
The most important aspect of internship is enhancing personal growth and development. I intend to learn a lot about myself during internship including how I adapt to new situations and challenges. Students should use this time towards clarifying their diversions, strengthening skills and identifying the areas where they need to improve as students and employees. Gaining experience in the workplace can also help improve your critical thinking, problem solving, innovation and interpersonal communication. Additionally, leadership abilities will be evidenced as you become an expert in your field of choice.
High Tech High spends a lot of time and effort preparing students for college and the real world. Internship is essential in helping students determine their next steps after high school. Participating in this internship experience will not only help you personally but will help shape a professional and polished portfolio for later in life. Internship is something that you can put on your resume and include in your cover letter and college application essays. Students in the past have received letters of recommendations for college from their mentors and some have landed a paid job with the company based on this. By documenting your internship achievements you are providing examples of your responsibilities, performance and range of skills. Just think, as a high school graduate you will have a professional portfolio that many seniors have not even started yet.
Internship was created to allow students to gain career related experience, explore professional interests, enhance personal development and create an expert portfolio. Students who discussed their participation in internship in the student journal Ampersand Volume 5, the most recently edition published in 2012 by junior students at High Tech High Media Arts said “I learned to be self sufficient and had to get things done on my own which proved to myself that I can handle these difficult task my mentor was asking me to do.” I would highly suggest that all juniors read Ampersand, as it opened my eyes to new things to look forward to and how to overcome some potentially challenges. I have found that most juniors do not have any regrets with internship because it is a learning experience.