Learning and earning: Owasso High School’s internship revolution
By Tony Cerqueira
Photo of Henry Stoller [student intern] taken by supervisor.
Career planning: it’s one of the many daunting challenges of high school. Each student will inevitably choose a career path fit for them. Owasso High School is open to a variety of career options for upperclassmen, ranging from more traditional paths like concurrent and Tulsa Technology Center courses to more unique endeavors such as student internships. This year, OHS has seen an unusually high number in student internships.
What sets student internships apart from any other high school career opportunity is their flexibility. There are countless internships available, and if you don’t see an internship for one of your interests, you can directly establish that internship. Additionally, internships are available to students with a weighted GPA of two or higher, making them accessible to a large demographic of students.
Owasso High School senior Bella Hale has experienced originating her own internship.
“Technically, the internship in my department—the ELD [English Language Development] department—never existed. They’ve never had an intern, really…I chose my internship after I volunteered last year in Códices [Spanish club], where [we] interacted with spanish-speaking children from various elementary schools,” Hale reflected.
For Hale, her internship is more than an opportunity to explore what her future career might hold for her; it is also an opportunity to build new relationships. Entering a classroom of young, spanish-speaking elementary students and helping them learn English is not only for academic benefit.
“[Before my internship] I was never really fond of kids, but I’ve noticed that the kids in this program are better behaved, or just really sweet and really nice,” Hale mused. “I just love them, and they're so funny and they're so silly.”
Not all internship experiences are the same, however. For Junior Aceline Lor, her role as a business and finance intern at the Owasso Chamber of Commerce has helped her gain crucial work experience.
“I chose to intern at the Chamber because I'm currently in the Tulsa Tech Accounting program, and with all the marketing and funding the Chamber does, I get to help with its finance,” Lor stated. “With my internship, I get to see how entrepreneurs and businesses can get started and advertise themselves to the public.”
Observing professionals in a work environment is extremely important as it offers an unprecedented perspective to interested interns.
Another senior at Owasso High School, Zion Moore, explains why she secured her internship.
“I decided to take a student internship because I wanted out of the repetitive classroom environment. I wanted to be able to give my time to a good cause and be able to explore possible future career options,” Moore ruminated.
Moore’s opportunity as a student intern is unlike others. She actively volunteers at Little Light House (LHH), a non-profit Christian development school for kids with special needs. Every kid is under the age of six years-old.
“I have found that my internship has made me overcome adversity and learn what it would be like in a career [setting],” Moore mentioned.
Moore’s perseverance in the classroom has fostered a unique growth for both her and her students.
These three students are prime examples of the growth that student internships can provide. It is evident that the rise of internships at Owasso High School is no accident–it underscores the growing recognition of fundamental, hands-on experiences vital to education. Owasso is sure to see its internship demographic only get bigger.