Big finish, instead of big fizzle
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“Senioritis” can hit hard — and there seems to be nothing anyone can do about it. As one former LaGuardia senior said to me, “It comes all at once, and it’s really painful.” But at least one city high school has found the answer to those appallingly unproductive last few months of high school: Internships.
At the Institute for Collaborative Education (ICE), second-semester seniors have internships instead of classes. They can choose an internship that suits their interests, so that they have a daily, real-world activity that keeps them engaged and challenged. As an added bonus, they gain experiences in a potential future work field that can help prepare them for college – and improve their resume.
My friend Maya, who is a second-semester senior at ICE, has two internships that mean a lot to her, at a fertility center and a photography center. So instead of cutting math class for two months, she’s getting these awesome life experiences.
I think more high schools should consider internships for second-semester seniors, because being productive beats waiting for the time to pass any day.
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I’m a senior at ICE, and i’m interning at WNYC. It’s certainly much better than classes, because it’s something different, and valuable. And yes, it does certainly help with the senioritis problem. It’s really great to get an opportunity to start working and get valuable experience. And maybe a summer job opportunity!
Comment by JF — May 1, 2009 @ 12:55 pm