Summer Opportunities for High School Students

Written by Taylor Gyurko

Are you a high school student looking for a valuable way to spend your summer break? There are many opportunities that are available to individuals who are interested in them, such as jobs, internships, and programs. Although there are a few months left until the summer season begins, application deadlines are mostly set for the spring, and it is good to look ahead and plan for your summer break.

Getting a summer job is a great way to earn money, gain experience, and make connections with others. The Hilliard Recreation and Parks Department is looking to hire and fill many summer positions. Erin Duffee from the Columbus Dispatch says that teenagers should consider applying for a position with the City of Hilliard because “It’s fun and the working conditions are awesome. Seasonal and part-time employees get to work outdoors in our pools, parks and facilities. Many of our summer staff members return year after year to continue friendships with people they met on the job.” Working for a city is a different experience, and more valuable to many. Duffee says, “Unlike many jobs in retail and the service industry, working in the public sector is an opportunity to truly have an impact on the community.” Working for the community is a rewarding experience and helps individuals learn new skills. You can view available jobs and apply by visiting the website, https://hilliardohio.gov/hiring/.

Another great summer opportunity for young people to consider is internships. Internships are where individuals work for an organization to gain meaningful experience and knowledge. There are all different kinds of internships for all different interests. I actually worked as an intern last summer with an animal welfare organization and had a truly invaluable experience. I highly recommend considering doing an internship, as the educational benefits are tremendous. Ten benefits of doing an internship, according to Indeed, are gaining job experience, research experience, access to a variety of tasks and departments, mentorship, helping guide career goals, networking, building a good resume, getting good references and recommendations, helping get your future career, and building confidence. You can find a wide variety of internships by plugging your location and interest into an online database, such as https://www.internships.com or https://www.internshipfinder.com. Another option is to just use a search engine to browse through internship positions, or to directly contact a company or organization you are interested in interning with.

The last option for summer opportunities for high school students is summer programs. There are a huge amount of fun programs available for students for a wide variety of interests. Many summer programs for high school students are offered through local universities, but they can also be offered through other organizations, such as, again, the City of Hilliard. These programs could be things like camps, classes, or activities, and can be found by searching online as well.

There are many summer opportunities for high school students in Hilliard. Taking part in one of these would be a valuable experience for every individual. A huge amount of jobs, internships, and programs for students in the local area can be found through an online search or talking to someone like a teacher, mentor, or guidance counselor to find more opportunities.

image credit: https://hilliardohio.gov/parks/roger-a-reynolds-municipal-park/