Mentors
2023 Internship Dates
Student Orientation visits Wednesday, March 22, 2023 (orientation at the internship site)
Internship will be from April 12, 2023 - May 12, 2023.
Internship Presentation of Learning (iPOL) will be on Friday, May 12, 2023.
BE A MENTOR & MAKE A DIFFERENCE! (LINK TO MENTOR COMMITMENT FORM) (Link to MENTOR INTEREST FORM)
Every year our students are deeply impacted by their internship experience. Because of the generosity of our mentors, our students are shown the ins-and-outs of real world jobs, projects, experiences. When students come back after internship, they are changed. They are motivated. Our mentors' time, effort, and willingness to share their wisdom, is the most unique education many of our students will have!
Internships take place from April 12, 2023 - May 12, 2023. The goal is for the interns to work 30 hours per week, the specific hours that the intern works each day should be decided by the intern and the mentor (with parent and teacher approval). The specific number of hours an intern works should be determined by the number of hours necessary to have a high quality experience. As the world has changed, so have we. Thus, students can do internships in-person, online, or a hybrid of both.
STUDENT ORIENTATION VISIT on Wednesday, March 22, 2023: As part of the Internship experience, students will do an orientation site visit before the beginning of Internship. This year’s visits are scheduled for Wednesday, March 22 and can range in time 1-2 hours to an all day experience. The intern is expected to communicate with the mentor in order to set up the specific details of this site visit (time for the visit, when to arrive, where to go, etc.).
What is an orientation visit? The purpose of the visit is two-fold. First, this is an opportunity for the mentor to make clear the expectations and requirements for a successful internship. Second, to confirm that this will be an appropriate and good fit for the student’s internship experience.
During the site visit students will:
Figure out how to get the site and where to go!
Meet their mentor and other colleagues at the site
Learn more about their role as an intern at the site
Observe what professional dress looks like at the site
Complete a mentor interview & take a photo of your mentor (or with your mentor)
Learn about expectations and logistics for the first week of internship.
Brainstorm ideas and begin to develop a project idea (this can change over time)
Have fun.
MENTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES (Link to 2022-2023 Internship Handbook) (Link to MENTOR INTEREST FORM)
The mentor is responsible for providing supervision and guidance to the student during the Internship. The mentor should be available to the student on a regular basis.
Mentors hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree, professional degree, and/or license in the field/industry on which the Internship was mutually developed and work in a professional setting (not from home).
Mentors may not be related to the student.
If the student will rotate through various departments in order to gain broad-based experience, the mentor serves as the primary contact overseeing the Internship.
It is important that the mentor is interested in working with high school students; has the time to invest in the Internship, especially during the first two weeks; and possesses qualities such as leadership, strong communication skills, and patience.
Because the Internship is defined as a learning experience, proper supervision is essential. The mentor serves as a teacher, mentor, critic, and supervisor. Ongoing supervision is the key to a successful Internship. This is especially true for a student who does not have prior experience in a professional setting. Acknowledging and identifying the different expectations between the workplace and school can help students make a successful transition to the world of work.
Mentors help guide students through their Internship experience. This may mean allowing or encouraging the student to participate in events that may not normally be open to entry level professionals, such as certain staff meetings, client consultations, or other related events. Even though these events may not be directly tied to the project that the student is supporting, they help provide a broad overview of the business or organization. The mentor can pass on a wealth of experience and knowledge while also benefiting from a fresh viewpoint and new ways of thinking from interacting with students.
An effective method of mentoring is to have a set time (twice a week is recommended) to meet with the student to review progress on projects, touch base, and provide feedback. The mentor oversees and assigns the student’s tasks toward fulfilling the project.
Evaluation is important to the student’s development and is an opportunity to identify strengths and weaknesses. It is helpful if the mentor evaluates the student throughout the Internship, not just at the end. The evaluation should be planned as a learning experience and an opportunity for dialogue and mutual feedback. Regularly scheduled evaluations help avoid common problems with Internships, including miscommunication, misunderstanding of job roles, and lack of specific goals and objectives. Mentors may find it helpful to schedule a preliminary evaluation early in the Internship (for example, in the second week). This helps the mentor understand whether the student understands the role and responsibilities of the Internship tasks or if there are specific areas in which the student has questions or needs further help.
