High school students have many pressures placed on them as they approach graduation and college applications. Students are expected to be well-rounded, participating in sports, clubs, and community service, all while maintaining high grades. Increasingly, internships during junior and senior year are being added to that list. 

There are many benefits to getting internship experience while in high school, not just for the appeal it provides on college applications. Internships help students try out a career path before they dive into a major and show them professional work experience that goes beyond what can be taught in the classroom. 

Why Complete an Internship?

With the already staggeringly high expectations placed on upperclassmen students in high schools, why should they complete an internship? The answer can vary depending on the goals of the student, but there are a few that can be applied to all kinds of internship opportunities.

1. Internships Help Students Better-Paying Jobs After College

One reason is the way that an internship can open up opportunities both in college and in the workforce. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 89% of employers said that students who completed a high school internship would have an advantage when looking for a collagen internship or a full-time job, and 83% said those internships would land students with better-paying jobs. 

In completing an internship, students set themselves up to translate their skills and interests into an environment where they will be noticed for their work. 

2. Internships Provide Invaluable Work Experience

Another reason is that students get to experience things that they would not normally get in the classroom or at a part-time job. Many part-time jobs that high schoolers work are typically task-oriented, where the worker is focused on completing a task that is in an immediate time frame. 

However, internships are typically more goal-oriented, where the worker is trying to complete a project toward a larger goal. Pushing students to be in environments where professional experience is developed can help them be more prepared for full-time work opportunities that go beyond the cash register. 

3. Internships Connect Students with Their Communities

Finally, another reason for an internship is so that students can create connections in their communities. Networking is a key component in careers that people often do not consider before they have to start building that network. Internships can be a great way for students to start building those networks, particularly if they show their skills during an internship, they’re likely to get more job opportunities. 

Along with that, in an internship, students can find others who are like-minded and share similar interests, making for a work environment that is more motivating and interesting.  

How Can Students Find Internships?

We know why internships are valuable, but how can students find internships before they are in college, where they are often required? 

1. Local Businesses and Institutions

Many different businesses and institutions that can be found in local communities want to support high school students through internships. According to SHRM, community institutions offer internships for high schoolers to support local high schools, gain new ideas and perspectives, and find future college interns. 

There is a mutual benefit whenever internships are offered to high schoolers, so they can reach out to institutions that offer careers in their area of interest and try to become involved. For example, a student who is interested in natural resources management as a major could reach out to their local parks and recreation department for an internship in high school. 

2. High School Courses or Programs

Some high schools may offer specific courses or support that help students get internships during one or two semesters. Students can register for these courses, and then their school will help them set up an internship with a local institution, such as a school or local business. 

Students may complete these internships, then to receive credit for the course they may complete a presentation or project that reflects on the time spent at their internship. 

The course may also require a specific number of hours for the internship to be counted towards credit, depending on how many semesters the internship spans. If there is not a course offered for the student to complete an internship during the school year, the school’s guidance counselor or counselors may be able to help the student find a summer internship that they can complete. 

3. Counselor Guidance

Students can work with different local institutions that a counselor links them with, and they can get full-time work experience, possibly while being paid since it is outside of school. While this internship would not count toward high school credit, it is still a valuable opportunity.

Looking at internship opportunities for high schoolers is a great way to prepare for both college and career in the future. By getting students to step outside of the classroom into the professional sphere, students can develop both their skills and their sense of self as an individual with goals and dreams. 

Join the Entrepreneurial Program for High Schoolers at Crenshaw

At The Crenshaw School in Orlando, Florida, we believe a strong foundation in academics and a well-rounded student are essential to the development in forming creative, thinking individuals. Challenging academics walking hand-in-hand with the community helps to create an outstanding citizen. Internships can be part of a well-rounded education. 

Our Entrepreneurial Program is available to our Upper School (high school) students. This program utilizes a special curriculum specially designed to build a strong foundation in international business, as well as business management and analysis.

These courses provide an exceptional foundation for students to begin their own start-up and/or transition into the global economy after graduation with greater ease and confidence.

Our curriculum is designed to inform, challenge, and stimulate students as they are being prepared for college and lifelong learning.

We would love to answer your questions about The Crenshaw Academy, our entrepreneurial program, and our educational philosophy in general. If you want to know more about how to be part of our school, reach out to our team today!