‘My high school internship helped me shape my future’
By Aubrey Martin
Sometimes, the only way for students to figure out what excites them is to try things out firsthand. That’s why Circle High School in Towanda, Kansas, has implemented a student internship program. Circle’s College and Career Ready internship program gives students the chance to explore new career paths early by participating in job shadowing opportunities and semester-long internships. As a student at Circle, my internship started with a conversation and turned into something that has shaped how I see my future.
Circle’s internships are not one-size-fits-all; every internship is designed around each student’s individual interests. These internships also count for class credits that students can use to meet graduation requirements.
Typically, students participate in internships during their junior or senior years, where opportunities that may include working at local businesses, aiding teachers in schools, shadowing at hospitals, or helping in offices. In these positions, Circle students are responsible for reaching yearly milestones by job shadowing, working at their internships, and/or obtaining technical certificates as graduating seniors.
Behind the scenes, Circle staff members are dedicated to connecting students with possible internship opportunities. Breahna Crawford, a counselor at Circle High School, helps students connect with and organize their internships.
“Students often develop a much clearer sense of direction after completing an internship,” Crawford said. “Many become more enthusiastic about their chosen fields, while others realize their initial interests may not align with their true passions, allowing them to pivot before investing in a related college degree. Both outcomes are significant milestones in their personal and professional growth.”
Crawford shared that internships in certain fields can be especially impactful for students.
“While all internships offer value, those in health care and the skilled trades tend to have the most significant impact,” she said. “These fields provide hands-on experiences that help students understand the day-to-day realities of the work and make informed career decisions.”
Circle Superintendent Don Potter said implementing internships improved student outcomes.
“I believe it’s important for high school students to have access to real-world learning experiences like internships because it helps them understand the possibilities that are out there for them,” Potter said. “Without opportunities to explore their interests, they may never truly know what they’re passionate about. These experiences can motivate students to take high school classes that align with their goals, help them develop a strong work ethic, manage their time better, and build valuable soft skills. I want students to have the chance to experience all of that.”
Potter said Circle’s goal is no longer only to help students graduate; it is to prepare them for what comes next in their lives, whether that means attending college, starting trade school, or entering the workforce. He said schools need to be flexible and adapt to changing employment trends.
As a student at Circle High School, I’ve been given countless opportunities, a major one being my current internship at Learning Lab Wichita.
During my junior year, a faculty member approached me and asked me to run the media page for the Circle High School boys’ basketball team. I was initially hesitant to take on the role as I had never worked in media before; however, I immediately fell in love with it. Not long after, Sara Potter, the district director of community relationships, asked me to also run the media department for the Circle School District as a whole. Once again, I was nervous, but Sara guided me and helped me hone my media skills.
Before this work with media, I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life. These internships showed me that I had a love and aptitude for marketing, digital media, and community development.
This fall, Sara Potter brought up another opportunity for me. An old friend of hers was working in marketing at a recent startup, and she believed my skill set would suit that internship opportunity. This is when I was introduced to Learning Lab Wichita.
Before I started at Learning Lab Wichita, I was not confident the internship would be a good fit for me. I thought, “I don’t have it all figured out yet.” But that was the point: I wasn’t supposed to know everything.
Even though the school district connected me with Learning Lab Wichita, the internship was nothing like a typical school class. At Learning Lab, I filmed videos, wrote content, sat in on meetings, and talked to people in the community about their jobs. I asked them questions such as how they’d arrived at their career paths and what degrees they’d earned. I learned that most of Learning Lab’s staff members ended up in totally different careers from those they originally planned. It has helped me realize just how many options are out there, and that I do not need to feel stuck on one career path; there is always room to shift and grow.
The internship also helped me narrow down what I know I want to do with my life. I know I aspire to do something that connects me back to my community. I enjoy working with people, storytelling, and content creation. I love seeing the direct impact of the work I do and how projects I complete can influence those around me.
This internship helped me take my interests and turn them into a career path I’m excited about. While I am still not exactly sure what career I want to pursue, I now have a better idea of the skills and experiences I want to aim for in my future job. Each internship I completed led to another one for me, and I am impressed by all the connections I have already established before I’ve even graduated from high school.
In conclusion, I’m truly grateful. Each internship I’ve had through Circle has helped me figure out what I enjoy and what I’m good at. The internship program provides a great example of personalized learning, which is what Learning Lab aims to do for the kids who participate in it.
I think about how fortunate I am to have had these experiences and how lucky future students at Circle will be to have them, too. The internship program is something that can change lives, and I hope more schools start offering something like it. Circle and Learning Lab Wichita are moving education forward, and I’m proud to have been a part of it.