Growing Up in School

Growing up in school, students are constantly reminded that a college education is necessary to
make a decent salary. Over the years, it has become evident to many young adults that this
statement is indeed true. However, as the need for jobs increases, so does the necessity of being
more competitive in a work field. Since our generation has grown up knowing that graduating from
college is a necessity, a college education is no longer enough to be competitive in the job market;
therefore, our generation has given birth to a new requirement to find the right job after college.
This requirement is known as an internship. Despite the fact that not many internship programs pay
their students, an internship is an essential element for a student's career in today's society. The
skills and opportunities attained after having participated in an internship program definitely
outweigh any downside to any part of the program.
College is a place where students become prepared for many aspects of life.
Pastor Ricky Torres made the following statement on night bus once: "You must be ready for
moments in your life where preparation and opportunity cross paths. If you're not prepared, you will
miss great opportunities that only come by once."
One aspect in life which must be well prepared is networking. The more contacts a person has, the
higher the chances of that person getting what he needs. "College internships are a resource and the
ultimate social network."1 When a student joins an internship program, he is joining a nexus of
connections that will last him for a lifetime.
"Internships are mutual beneficial relationships." 2 The intern gets an opportunity to look into the
real world pertaining to his career, while the employer gets a chance to look for the brightest and
hardest working members in the program. Many times in life, it doesn't necessarily come down to
"how much you know" but "who you know". Internships provide the chance to get to know many
important people in the area that best interest a student.
Internships secure a successful way to find employment. For example, the majority of the young men
that graduate from Hyles-Anderson College end up interning for their home pastors. Interns return
home and eventually become Music Directors, Assistant Pastors, School Teachers, or Bus Directors.
However, most of these interns usually receive little to no pay at all when they first begin working for
their home church. This is indeed one of the most criticized downsides to many internship programs.
Nearly 50% of all Internships in the U.S are unpaid and 85% of graduates are actually willing to intern
for free.3
Critics believe that colleges and companies are constantly pushing students to join internship
programs because these companies save millions of dollars annually by "hiring" interns. Although this
may be true, most graduates that enter an intern program finish the internship receiving a highly
coveted job offer. In the other hand, a great number of graduates that don't have the tool of an
internship network usually leave college and cannot find a job. These graduates put up with having to
wander from one job to another while the jobs usually have nothing to do with their field of study.
Students who are willing to sacrifice a couple months of salary usually end up winning because they
find a welt-fitting and well-paid job in the end.
Most internships equip members with necessary experience in their field of study. "The dilemma
new graduates most often face is that they've got fine academic training but no hard experience." 4
Employers usually look for applicants who have hands-on experience. When very few people are
wilting to take the risk of hiring a complete rookie, internship programs are designed for this matter.
Internships provide students with great experience and references to add to their resumes.
Graduates are also able to add themselves to a real work force without having to engage in
commitment with a company or an employer. That itself is enough to relieve unnecessary stress on
anyone! Not only are these programs beneficial for interns, but for employers as well. Companies can
be sure that interns are dedicated and truly interested in the field that they are working in.
There are many people who are currently working in fields where they never thought they would
work. Their plans in life didn't work out the way they wanted and they are now living under what
they once labeled "Plan B". A good example of this can be found in a chapter from the book To
Become a Teacher. "When I asked why he wanted to teach and, more specifically, why he wanted to
teach young children, the young man quickly responded.
"Oh, I've always heard that its good to pick up some teaching credits. The early childhood education
program looked doable [easy enough, I quickly interpreted] with my engineering courses. Anyway, if
all else faits," he continued, "I could always fall back on teaching."... How I wish that this young man's
story was an exception..." 5 Internships are a way to prevent situations like these. Employers can see
who really wants to work in a department and if they can't find anyone fit for the job, they can at
least see who has the potential and who doesn't. A person who doesn't intern after college is truly
missing out on a chance to take his career on a test-run.
Internships are indeed excellent and rewarding ways to gain hands-on experience. Interns have the
opportunity to meet and network with many people who will provide help and references along their
career. Although internship programs may not always pay their students, today's competitive work
force demands graduates to be highly equipped for their work field. The skills and opportunities
attained from an internship program are innumerable. If anyone is struggling to decide which
internship to join, they should see their school advisor or simply research online. Great opportunities
for success are definitely available, the question is: "How competitive do graduates want to be?".

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Growing up in school, students are constantly reminded that a college education is necessary to

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