By Meagan Phelan, Writing Tutoring Instructor, Prepped & Polished, LLC
When I was 15, my parents took me to tour JLG—the leading manufacturer of lift equipment in the United States. I remember walking through warehouses full of tall yellow and orange cranes, trying to comprehend the relevance of the experience. Did Mom and Dad think I’d be a lift operator one day?
That same year, my parents took me to tour the Pfaltzgraff (a ceramic company), Harley Davidson (the motorcycle manufacturer), and Merrill Lynch (a prominent bank).
Internships
Between my fifteenth year and the time I went to college, I got internships at the local hospital (in the radiology department), at the courthouse (working in public records), and with my dentist (I’ll never forget watching him make a gold tooth).
To me, each of these experiences was unique; I couldn’t quite decipher the connection my parents wanted me to make. Furthermore, I never thought to myself, “I definitely want to pursue this career.”
Different career paths
What I did think, however, was, “Someday, I will be able to work in a profession I choose.” Having heard the stories of the physicians I shadowed or the engineers I observed discussing the design of motorcycle engines. I was aware of how professionals in the world had to put their education to work for them every day.
Indeed, by the time I got to college, I realized Mom and Dad were not only trying to broaden my awareness of the many career paths available to me but also trying to ground my current work, in reality, to say, “There is a direct application for the work you are pursuing today. It’s more real—and nearer—than you might think.”
Often, high school students today can get caught up in test scores and college admissions processes. Don’t get me wrong—those scores and those admissions essays are critical hurdles on the track to a successful future. That said, if you don’t contemplate the lasting value of education and make an effort that you truly and deeply digest, you are only doing a disservice to your future self—the self that will be looking for a job.
Choose career seriously
Perhaps one of the best ways to get excited about the course work you are pursuing as you complete high school and move on to college, where you’ll have to consider your career choice seriously, is to get out there in the field and ask professionals at work how they’re using what they learned in school.
I know I did. And it’s landed me a job I love.
Meagan Phelan holds an M.A. in Science Writing from The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD and a B.A. in Biology from Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pa. She has freelanced as a science writer and is a Fulbright Scholar. She currently works as a Senior Writer and Editor at AIR Worldwide, a catastrophe risk modeling firm based in Boston.
Was your high school internship a profound experience? What part of Meagan’s story affected you the most?
Post your tips/comments below.
This is wonderful! It’s also the reason that I encourage high school kids to find a summer program where they can try out some courses in a profession that they might eventually choose. There are even summer internship programs for high school students! I’m so glad that your parents were pro-active with you and that you found a job you love. Thanks for sharing.
I think that a job shadow or internship experience can be the most valuable exploration experience for anyone! I always suggest to students that if they know someone in a field related to what they think their interest might be, to reach out to the person and ask if they can speak to them/shadow for a day, etc.
i have a Master’s degree in School Counseling, but the field work for my degree was at the very end of the program. After working in a ‘Guidance Office’ (aka School Counseling Office) I realized that a school environment was not a match to my personality or skill set at all. However, I really enjoyed the students. I gained some additional training and became an Educational Consultant.
The author of the post was very fortunate to have parents who saw the value in seeing what different jobs are–for a lack of a better way to put it!
Your parents were indeed forward-thinking; lucky you! While I agree in general regarding the value of internships, my attempt at placing one of my consulting clients in a promising possible internship last summer did not go well.
The young man in question was 17 and a rising high school senior with an interest in aviation. I pursued a connection with one of the regional airports nearby, and found two professionals who were willing to contemplate such a thing. My client and I were lucky enough to get a tour there (which was fascinating), and met many great folks over the course of a couple hours.
However, when it came time for B to follow through and make the next appointment that was arranged for him on his own he dropped the ball and didn’t show, irritating the guy who arranged for him to observe a dispatcher for a half day. From that point on the two stopped responding to B’s calls and emails and an opportunity was lost.
What I learned from this was that 1)arranging internships takes a lot of time, effort, and cultivation, and 2)some high school age students may not be mature enough to handle the responsibility and follow through that a full-bore internship requires. Therefore, I suggest carefully screening prospective interns, and working up to an internship request in stages, perhaps beginning with an observation, followed by related volunteer time to demonstrate readiness.
It also occurs to me, having worked for 20 years on the student support side of higher ed administration, that colleges are aggressively and rightly pursuing internship opportunities for students, potentially exhausting some of the opportunities that might be out there.
Anyway, your point is well taken that thinking about and exposure to careers is a good idea. I still love the idea of take your kid to work day for a start….
As a private college counselor, I think this is great advice. What better way for a student to show initiative than by pursuing internships and shadowing? When colleges are looking for students with maturity and dedication, this would be a real plus on any application. These experiences also help students to get an inside look at different professions and decide whether or not they have any interest in finding out more.