Do Internships in High School Make an Impact?
February 7, 2023
Do Internships in High School Make an Impact?
As a high schooler, you might be asking yourself if an internship is something you really need. Sure, getting some real-world experience might be nice before you even graduate high school, but will it help you reach your long-term goals? The short answer is YES!
High school internships – both paid and unpaid – provide great value to students. Perhaps you are looking to understand more about a particular profession. An internship might provide a peak behind the curtain and give you access to higher-ups within that industry that can provide valuable insight as you look to college and what you might major in. Spending hands-on time interning might also be the key to understanding what you don’t like to do. Finding where your interests and passions lie often means understanding what you don’t enjoy.
High school is the perfect time to explore a variety of different industries by dipping your toe in the sand. As a high schooler, your role as an intern might simply be to observe and take it all in. Take this opportunity to take notes, network with everyone and raise your hand to take on anything asked of you. High school internships often lead to valuable mentor/mentee relationships that can last a lifetime. Making the right impression in high school could mean you always have a positive reference to call upon down the road.
High school schedules are crazy! Between sports, homework, part-time jobs, and other responsibilities, it might sound overwhelming to take on anything else. Many high schools offer a curriculum that focuses on business and might even offer credits for internships. Take advantage of whatever opportunities are afforded to you for school and remember, going the extra effort now will definitely make a big impact later!
One local internship opportunity we can’t wait to tell you about comes from Cleveland Clinic’s Education Institute and the Center for Youth and College Education, which offers two paid summer internship programs focused on healthcare careers (clinical and non-clinical) and workforce development:
- Cleveland Clinic Louis Stokes Summer Internship Program
- Science Summer Internship Program
Both programs give Northeast Ohio high school students the opportunity to learn and work alongside world-renowned caregivers at Cleveland Clinic’s main campus, regional hospitals, family health centers, and administrative campuses. The 2023 summer internship applications open on March 1, 2023. Click here to add your name to their email list for updates.
Beyond Breakthrough is partnered with over 15 local employers who are looking to hire for full-time, part-time, and internship positions. You can learn more about each employer and communicate directly through our Alumni Portal. The portal is an invaluable resource available to all Breakthrough Alumni. Click here to peruse the Portal, register and view our expansive list of Partner Employers as you plan for your next internship or beyond.