If you’ve ever sat in class wondering what the “real world” actually looks like, the North High School Internship Program is basically the answer to that question. It’s one of the longest-running programs at our school, starting back in 1986 and it gives juniors and seniors an opportunity to step out of the classroom and into workplaces around Worcester.
One of the coolest things about the program is how much effort the school puts into making sure everyone has opportunities. Teachers and staff have spent years building partnerships with businesses, hospitals, schools, and community organizations. Because of that, students can explore all kinds of fields: medical and health careers, business technology, marketing, IT, early childhood education, social services, and more. It’s not just for students who already know what they want to do, it’s also for people who are still figuring out what they want to do.
The program runs from mid-January to mid-May, which means it’s a pretty big part of the school year. Every day, students leave school at 10:30 am and head straight to their internship using school buses. This year, there’s even more flexibility because students don’t have to return to school afterward. That gives them more time to actually work, learn, and get comfortable within their roles. By the end of the program, each student completes over 100 hours of real-world-experience, which looks amazing on a resume or a college application for seniors. There’s also an option to turn your internship into a paid Co-Op position. That’s a huge deal for students who want to earn money while still getting school credit. It’s basically the best of both worlds: you’re learning and getting paid at the same time.
What makes the program so valuable is how much confidence it builds. When you’re actually doing the work, whether it’s helping in a classroom, assisting in a medical office, or supporting a local business, you start to see your own strengths in a new way. You learn how to talk to professionals, how to manage your time, how to solve problems, and how to handle responsibility. These are things you can’t fully learn from a textbook.
Interviewing students like Kacey Colon who intended in the YMCA preschool said she walked into her site on the first day expecting to be nervous and felt like she wouldn’t do good with the kids due to patience, but she was going to try her best. Another student The interns have to wear blue scrubs and a light blue lab coat that has allied health on it and shoes have to be one color.
Another big benefit is the connections you make. A lot of students end up forming strong relationships with their supervisors and coworkers. Some even get offered summer jobs or future opportunities because of the impression they make during the internship. Even if you don’t continue in that exact field, the experience helps you understand what kind of work environment you enjoy, and what you don’t.
Overall, the North High School Internship Program is one of the most meaningful experiences you can have as a student. It pushes you out of your comfort zone in the best way possible and helps you picture what your future could look like. Whether you’re planning to go to college, start working right after high school. Or are still figuring things out, the internship program gives you a head start on whatever comes next.
For more information, visit here: https://sites.google.com/worcesterschools.net/nhs-internship?usp=sharing
