The Children’s Trust: What I learned from my experience in the Summer Youth Internship Program | Opinion

Around this time of year, high schoolers typically slug through the hallways, spinning lists in their minds of internships, community service and ACT/SAT prep. At least, that’s where I was in the spring of my junior year. Fruitlessly searching for programs that would enrich my high school experience without breaking the bank.

So preoccupied was I with the coming college application season that I never listened closely to the morning announcements, which hailed the Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP), a collaboration between The Children’s Trust, Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), Miami-Dade County, Career Source South Florida, the Foundation for New Education Initiatives and EdFed Credit Union.

As a paid internship that also offers school credit in Miami-Dade, SYIP is a great opportunity to gain experience while also earning money that is open to high school students in Miami-Dade County.

I enrolled at the urging of my school’s activities director. The promise of a paycheck at the end of a resume-building experience was extremely appealing. Another important benefit of the program is that students can earn a GPA boost by way of both school and Dual Enrollment credit through their participation.

Browsing the positions available, I was struck by the range of opportunities being offered: clerking in a law office, filing medical records, marketing, management, retail, or counseling, the possibilities were endless. That July, friends of mine took up new posts as chiropractic assistants, social media managers, and even summer camp counselors.

At first, the array of possibilities before me seemed overwhelming. Without a clear career path in mind, the job descriptions all started to blur together. During the interview process, however, that anxiety finally dissipated. The program provides online comprehensive workplace etiquette and interview coaching to ensure that all students, regardless of experience, are prepared for success.

I was lucky enough to land a spot as an intern for The Children’s Trust, a government organization that provides funding for social services, programs, and resources for the children of Miami-Dade. Eight of us were interviewed and hired for five weeks in the summer of last year. None of us had ever worked in an office environment before, but with the help of the program and our wonderful supervisors, we learned how the important work of public service is done. Interning under one of the program’s sponsors came with loads of insight into the program at large.

Our supervisor organized financial literacy sessions with EdFed, where educators demystified some personal finance concepts and pointed us in the direction of resources the bank provides. As part of this program, students are required to open a checking account with EdFed to receive their stipend payments. This credit union is particularly geared toward planning for the financial futures of students and educators in South Florida.

Too often, these internship experiences can be hard to access for students living in low-income neighborhoods. But by compensating participants and granting them access to financial literacy resources through the partnership with EdFed, students are really set up to succeed.

In my own experience, the internship program was an invaluable first step in my career. Not only did I learn how organizations like The Children’s Trust run, but I also learned how passionate I am to continue to make change in my community. This self-discovery motivated me to stay at The Children’s Trust during my senior year through a school year internship, and through applications and decisions, my commitment to pursue a career in social services is strong.

Research shows that students entering the workforce with an internship under their belt are more confident, more experienced, and more prepared to succeed. I can certainly attest to those results, as this opportunity has truly inspired me to stay engaged and push forward.

With the encouragement of M-DCPS and backing from organizations like The Children’s Trust, SYIP is uniquely positioned to provide a holistic experience for participants. I hope that families and students reading this piece take advantage of this opportunity and sign up for the SYIP experience. If you’re searching for a program to enrich your summer and your resume, then look no further!

The deadline to complete an online course to apply for the program is Friday, May 12. Visit miami.getmyinterns.org for eligibility requirements and more information.

Amaya Borroto is a senior at Mast Academy and is a member of The Children’s Trust’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC).