Once, an internship was something that many college students were looking to do. Now, it is becoming the norm for many high school students to get internships. As opposed to being able to enjoy their summer or just focus on school, many students think they need an internship to be competitive. What once was considered an additional benefit to student resumes has now become an expectation for students, causing increased pressure to succeed.
Pressure is one of the significant problems with this new norm. Students constantly hear about how internships help with college and future employment opportunities. This places an overwhelming burden on students to be constantly engaged in productive activities to not fall behind others who are obtaining internships. Because of this pressure, students try to get the opportunity to explore their interests and are solely attempting to create their resumes.
Another challenge facing many students is the ability to find internships. Many of the available internships are for college students, and many require that students have connections to the internship. As a result, the process is often perceived as an unfair opportunity for many students. Some students have family and network support, whereas others are uncertain of how or where to begin.
Internships have also become significantly more competitive; many students are competing for very few available positions, which contributes to the ever-increasing stress of this once educational opportunity. As a result, instead of being valued for the experience they provide, internships are often pursued simply to secure the next opportunity.
Internships in high school and college vary greatly. Internships at the high school level tend not to be paid, or at least focus primarily on observation. College internships tend to provide students with more of an authentic intern experience. Therefore, one might question why an internship in high school is advantageous.
Despite this barrier, students persist in applying for internships in various fields, such as science, journalism and political science. Many students also think that starting early and getting as much experience as possible is a competitive advantage, but this may cause them to go into a career field before they are prepared.
Internships can also be time-consuming, especially during the summer months. Summer has changed from a period of rest to a period of additional responsibilities. This can lead to stress and burnout.
Internships can be very beneficial, but they should not feel like an obligation in high school. Students need time to determine what their true interests are without continuously feeling pressured to be an intern. While experience is important, so is achieving balance in one’s life.
