Internships
Opened in September 2004, San Diego’s Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical High School is the first Southern California Met location. We educate one student at a time, so each student’s curriculum is determined by his or her unique interests, background, and learning styles. All students work on projects in real-world settings related to their interests and develop strong relationships with teachers and project mentors. The Met enrolls families, not just students. Our diverse student body all apply to college, whether they choose to enter after high school graduation or after gaining work experience.
As Learning Through Internship (LTI) is the center of the Met curriculum, we have sent students out on internships at businesses and organizations all over San Diego County since opening our doors. At the worksites, students take on real-world tasks and projects under the supervision of a mentor. Back at school, the students work with their advisors, building and reinforcing the skills and knowledge needed to complete those projects.
INTERNSHIP SCHEDULE
The students are at their internships two days a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays for 8 to 16 hours per week. Hours are between 7 AM – 7 PM. The internships are set up for a minimum of 10 weeks. San Diego Unified School District covers their Workman’s Comp.
BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS
• Build a relationship with an adult mentor
• Learn the professional attitude and expertise that are necessary in today’s workplace
• Learn skills such as organization, punctuality and time management
• Become engaged in his/her work and take ownership of his/her learning
• Understand the importance of education and develop long-term goals
BENEFITS FOR MENTORS
• Have a fresh set of eyes look at your work and see new answers to old problems
• Catch the enthusiasm of a teenager who is excited about your work
•Have an extra set of hands to tackle the daily tasks at your organization
•Become part of a statewide network of professionals who mentor students
•Personal reward of encouraging teenagers who share your professional goals
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
• Contribute real work to the internship site
• Take on a special project for the internship site
• Research an investigative question connected to their work or project
• Meet regularly with the mentor to report on progress and to receive feedback
• Reflect on work and learning in journal writings
• Call mentor and the Met if he/she is going to be absent or late
MENTOR RESPONSIBILITIES
• Call the Met if the student is absent
• Schedule regular times to meet with the student to give him/her feedback
• Meet, call, or e-mail with the student’s advisor to discuss their work as needed
• Try to attend the student’s final presentation of his/her work (an exhibition)
A unique SDUSD middle college high school in partnership with The Big Picture Co.
