by Stephanie Partridge
My daughter will be in an internship through her school next year, which will be her senior year. She is planning to go to college and on to veterinarian school. The academy where she will be going has several programs that allow students to work in internships to gain practical, hands on experience in the field of their choice. The program in which she will be participating teaches animal care, dog grooming and related things dealing with animals. It allows students to actually work in an environment where they are caring for and handling the animals, giving them real life, practical experience.
Located just outside of Washington, D.C., this academy has several programs including computer science and gourmet cooking. Some of the programs even pay the students. But internship opportunities for high school students are available all over the country. Some are small, local programs like the one my daughter is attending, while others take students for several weeks in the summer to a major city where they gain real life experience in a professional setting.
Many high school students and their parents probably don’t consider the option of an internship. Traditionally, this is usually thought to be reserved for college students. In actuality, more and more companies are opening their doors to high school interns. There are several good reasons to encourage your teen to pursue an internship.
http://www.internshipprograms.com/
http://highschoolinternships.net
http://www.internabroad.com/
http://www.idealist.org/
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When applying for high school internships, find out just what the company wants in an application. Most companies that sponsor internships have specific guidelines that they post for applicants to review. Make sure that you follow those guidelines to the letter. Help your teen navigate the process and adhere to the procedure that is required.
Are internships only for college students, or can high school students apply too?
High school internships are more available than most families realize. More and more companies are actively opening their doors to high school students, recognizing that early professional exposure benefits both the intern and the organization. Programs range from small local arrangements to structured multi-week summer placements in major cities, and some even offer a small stipend.
What are the main benefits of a high school internship?
A good internship gives your teen hands-on, practical experience in a field they are genuinely considering — something a classroom cannot fully replicate. It clarifies career direction early, builds real confidence, and gives college applications a concrete and memorable dimension that grades and test scores alone cannot provide.
How should a parent help their teen apply for a high school internship?
Start by identifying programs in your area and reading each company’s specific application guidelines carefully. Most sponsors post clear requirements, and following those instructions precisely is itself part of the professional lesson. Help your teen review their application materials, but let them own the effort — the experience of navigating a real application process is part of what makes an internship valuable.
Biography
Stephanie Partridge is a freelance writer and photographer as well as a FOIA analyst for a federal agency in Washington, D.C. She is a single mom to Jeffery, 19; Micah Elizabeth, 17 and Benjamin, 15. She is also the author of the ebook, “Diet is a Dirty Word.”
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