Following the college application and decision process, seniors want nothing more than to look forward to the exciting time of senior spring. Second-semester seniors feel the weight off their shoulders as they get to focus on prom, senior assassin, graduation, and college. Unfortunately, there is one bump in the road. Finding an internship.
The senior internship program starts Monday, May 18th, after AP testing ends, as an alternative to school for the rest of the year. Students love getting the opportunity to try a new skill or get out of their finals, but picking an internship can seem daunting. Luckily, there are many diverse options and contacts to help you secure your future internship seamlessly!
How did you come across and secure your internship?
Senior Sophie Ezbiansky, who is interning at The Current in Stamford, used a previously existing relationship as a contact for her internship. “I had trouble finding a serious internship because people wouldn’t respond to my emails and phone calls. I ended up reaching out to The Current because I attend physical therapy there and was able to talk to one of the co-owners to secure my internship,” Ezbiansky commented.
Senior Kateri Daly, who is planning to intern at Cannae Portfolio Advisors, took a different approach, finding a company she wanted to work for and contacting them. “I did a lot of googling. I emailed because a family friend told me that he interviewed there and they were nice. He said if I reached out, they would probably take me, and they did,” Daly offered.
You also have the option to operate within the Darien Public School system. The elementary and middle schools take high school interns every year with just a quick email. Senior Melanie McClancy, who will be completing her internship at Holmes Elementary School, commented that she “emailed the principal and I set up an interview and they quickly took me.”
If cold emailing doesn’t work, using a relationship with a local business can be an easy way to find an internship, and the Darien Public School system is always a good option to fall back on.
Which DHS staff member did you ask to oversee your internship, and why?
Students asked teachers they had both in the past and this year for help with their internships. The common trend was the feeling of a meaningful connection with their advisors. Ezbiansky picked learning center teacher Celeste Elfstrom because “she’s super nice, and has been helpful with my medical journey at school.” While McClancy chose science teacher David Herberger because “he’s funny and chill and I like spending time with him.”
Does your internship relate to your future career plans in any way?
Senior Myra Burkhart, who is interning at First Congregational Nursery School but plans to major in business next year, declared that, though her internship isn’t directly related to what she wants to do, she was excited for the chance to try something new.
“No, it’s not really related, maybe if I decide to study psychology, like early childhood development. Overall, though, it’s something different,” Burkhart offered when asked about her plans.
On the other side, Kateri Daly commented, “my internship is my dream job and exactly what I want to do after college. I was told to make a good impression on the CEO because he likes to hire people.”
What advice would you give current juniors about finding an internship next year?
The overwhelming advice was that internships are not one-size-fits-all. They can be directly related to what you want to do, or they can have no weight on your plans. You can know your site advisor (as long as they are not a parent), or you can create a new connection.
Daly puts it into words best. When asked what advice she would give to next year’s juniors when finding their internships, she would tell them to, “find something that is either really easy or interesting because if it’s not interesting, then at least it’s easy, and if it’s hard, at least it’s interesting because you don’t want to be bored, miserable, and overworked.”
