The Importance of High School Internships
With college decisions right around the corner for the Class of 2025, students are anxious to open letters that will change the trajectory of their lives.
Like most students, since birth, I’ve been asked where I want to go to college and what job I want, so one of the best ways I’ve chosen to answer those questions was by finding internships that align with my passions.
I am a junior at Miramonte High School and last summer, I completed an internship for the Sophie Hahn for Berkeley Mayor Campaign 2024.
Because I love politics, it was the perfect fit.
In my role, I canvassed homes in Berkeley, phone-banked, worked on Hahn’s social media platform and more. I gained hands-on experience and grew my passion, which is something colleges and job recruiters look for.
My internship helped me determine that I could turn my interest in politics into a career. With my view on the future changed, internships are fundamental to helping with decision-making about what’s to come, but they can be hard to find.
Ryan Loughran, a senior at Miramonte who interned on State Senator Steve Glazer’s team last summer, said that getting internships depends on making connections.
“I would say the key to finding internships is meeting people and intentionally reaching out to them,” said Loughran.
As it turned out, one of his letters of recommendation for his college application was written by his boss in Senator Glazer’s office. It must have paid off because Loughran is committed to the University of Pennsylvania.
Loughran said he’s glad the internship gave him transformative experiences, like speaking with constituents.
“A key takeaway for me was helping constituents and meeting some really great people in Senator Glazer’s office. Shout-out to them,” he said.
Miramonte senior Lucia Pierdant worked with the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic during her junior year in Illinois.
“My greatest accomplishment wasn’t anything I specifically did, but more [about] learning,” Pierdant said.
She said if she hadn’t emailed the clinic, she wouldn’t have known she wanted to pursue law.
“I met a judge and she recognized me for my passion and interest, which was meaningful to me,” added Pierdant.
Loughran and Pierdant are excited to see what doors will open with the experiences they have gained.
Social sciences aren’t the only fields with available internships.
Olivia Barakeh, a junior at Miramonte and current intern at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, said that connections beyond internships are fundamental to a college application.
“I recommend students find internships by building connections through different extracurriculars and hobbies,” she said.
If students can find peers who are interested in similar things, then they can further their passions together.
Barakeh has met those kinds of peers through Miramonte’s public speaking program, a political discourse club, and a Latin club – which have helped grow her interests.
“You need connections in your extracurriculars, with your letters of recommendation, and to understand how to do things that will be helpful to you academically,” she said.
Miramonte also has a WISE program – Wise Individualized Senior Experience – which is a class seniors can take to have time for internships or other learning programs. For WISE students, the English 4 curriculum is packed into the first semester and when the second semester rolls around, students have a free period except on Mondays.
Students are still given a grade for that semester, based on their journal entries, essays and presentations on their involvement.
Internships are an opportunity to change students’ perspective on the future, and even an acceptance into universities. Make sure to research, reach out and connect with people who can help you.
