Seniors at Indiana Senior High School have the chance to participate in the Senior Career Seminar Program. This is an educational internship program aimed at helping students learn about potential future careers. This opportunity allows students to have an out of the classroom real world learning experience and is aimed at setting students up for success in their future careers.  

IHS seniors can opt out of morning or afternoon classes in exchange for an internship at a career-related experience. Students earn credit for their internship in place of the classes they would normally take at the high school, provided they still meet their required classes for graduation. This program differs from others at IHS because students must seek their own employment, resulting in a large pool of opportunities. Students must work at least 10 hours per week, in addition to completing all classwork. Classwork for these students consists of journal entries, artifacts and readings. 

The students have a large task in trying to manage the workload. Senior Chloe Hain comments, “The hardest part about balancing the two has been choosing which one to prioritize.” She continues to say, “I always made sure I completed my school work first. Even though the work I do for my internship is extremely important, I’m still a student first.” Hain is a part of the senior career seminar program and is interning at Summit Church. 

Another member of the program, Oliver John, interns at IRMC Physician Group as a Medical Assistant. John explained that for him, the most difficult part of balancing his workload is “having less time to do homework on days I have to work.” He adds that he does “miss some school events.” This is another challenging part of only being at school for half the day. 

This unique opportunity has increased students’ confidence in their respective fields. The exposure to realistic work experiences is an opportunity everyone should take. John remarks his experience has made him “want to become a physician even more.” Hain, with a similar experience, has stated that her advisor, “Stefanie Ackerman, has definitely shown me that work can be fun.” 

IHS Senior Lelise Allison describes the program as an “amazing opportunity.” She notes, “despite, maybe not wanting to go into the career after doing the internship program, at least, you know.”

Allison, an intern at Cowburn and Keppich Eye Doctor, elaborated that she has found more confidence while seeing a realistic view. “If you go into something like this and you see how hard it is, especially Dr. Cowburn’s job when I see him actually doing his work. I can sometimes doubt myself.” Despite those doubts, Allison says, “But even at the beginning of the internship, I was really worried,” however, she was able to learn all the necessary information and adds that, “it gives me confidence.”

The IHS Senior Career Seminar Program is such an amazing opportunity. It provides real life experience to high school students that a classroom setting can not provide.