High school seniors and many entering college students often feel that high school hasn't prepared them for the “real world”. The adjustment to a new work or educational environment creates many unexpected situations and expectations that leave students feeling unprepared and less confident. Both businesses and colleges agree that graduates lack hard and soft skills. Students also believe it would've been helpful to receive training from the businesses and schools. Implementing internships in the high school curriculum can correct this problem.
One important issue that has to be addressed is that students are graduating from high school without both the skills and confidence to make good choices for college and future jobs. School takes care …show more content…
The same decision making applies when selecting a job. Some would argue that once students are going to college and at a workplace, they are old enough to know how to make their own decisions. But the following article states what exactly employers and college administrators seek from students. In the article, “NWA Job Market Calling For Soft Skills”, author/journalist Marty Cook informs the public what business actually expect and want from employees based on a “three-year strategic plan” organization called Northwest Arkansas P-20 Task Force. During the summer of 2015, P-20 held a meeting where the director of the Education Renewal Zone at the University of Arkansas, Elizabeth Smith mentioned the following.“ they said they wanted people with soft skills. They said ‘We need them [students] to show up on time ;we need them to pass a drug test; we need them to work hard.’They wanted them to be reliable and teachable.’ Soft skills are essential to have. During my interview with Sabrina Antoine; Admissions and Outreach specialist of Year Up organization, she gave some pointers on how to maintain the required soft skills. “Communication is key both verbal and nonverbal. Speaking and showing a message by presenting yourself so that's one. Number two is your skills set; willingness to take initiative. Initiative is key …show more content…
The first step to integrating internships is by first making partnerships with organizations and businesses. After all, there are mainly the ones that we'll be working for. Ideally these work internships would occur after the regular school day, but as part of a course students could sign up to take. This way, any objection to students losing class time, won’t come up since the internships happen after school. This could be an opportunity available to academically strong juniors and seniors. Rather than taking the time or focus away from the academics of the high school, an internship program would be a benefit to the school and students who have earned the right to participate in
One important issue that has to be addressed is that students are graduating from high school without both the skills and confidence to make good choices for college and future jobs. School takes care …show more content…
The same decision making applies when selecting a job. Some would argue that once students are going to college and at a workplace, they are old enough to know how to make their own decisions. But the following article states what exactly employers and college administrators seek from students. In the article, “NWA Job Market Calling For Soft Skills”, author/journalist Marty Cook informs the public what business actually expect and want from employees based on a “three-year strategic plan” organization called Northwest Arkansas P-20 Task Force. During the summer of 2015, P-20 held a meeting where the director of the Education Renewal Zone at the University of Arkansas, Elizabeth Smith mentioned the following.“ they said they wanted people with soft skills. They said ‘We need them [students] to show up on time ;we need them to pass a drug test; we need them to work hard.’They wanted them to be reliable and teachable.’ Soft skills are essential to have. During my interview with Sabrina Antoine; Admissions and Outreach specialist of Year Up organization, she gave some pointers on how to maintain the required soft skills. “Communication is key both verbal and nonverbal. Speaking and showing a message by presenting yourself so that's one. Number two is your skills set; willingness to take initiative. Initiative is key …show more content…
The first step to integrating internships is by first making partnerships with organizations and businesses. After all, there are mainly the ones that we'll be working for. Ideally these work internships would occur after the regular school day, but as part of a course students could sign up to take. This way, any objection to students losing class time, won’t come up since the internships happen after school. This could be an opportunity available to academically strong juniors and seniors. Rather than taking the time or focus away from the academics of the high school, an internship program would be a benefit to the school and students who have earned the right to participate in