2008 Summer Internships
Monday, 08 of September, 2008
2008 Summer JobsHelping our students find summer employment is an important component of our comprehensive program. Three years ago, we started the summer internship program to help our students obtain valuable work experience and build their resumes. The skills and confidence our students gain from working in a professional environment serve them well in college and beyond. They are exposed to a world which is often unavailable to them. It’s hard to believe, but for some of our students the ride in a high-rise elevator is a first-in-a-lifetime moment.
Over 40 students worked this summer which represents a 37% increase from last summer. Listed below is a partial list of positions our students worked this summer along with excerpts describing their experiences. Thank you to our many corporate and non-profit partners who provided our students with opportunities of a lifetime. It was quite a summer…
Christian Sanchez (Cal Poly), Apple Inc.: “This summer I had the chance of a lifetime to intern with Apple with the Technology Management Team. I was assigned real projects that actually helped people and was treated as a member of the team. This internship gave me a peek at scripting and coding, which is what I want to pursue as a career. The most important thing I learned and applied to my life is that INNOVATION is the KEY to success. Two years ago I would not have seen myself working with computers given I didn’t even own my first computer until my senior year in high school. This is just the beginning. I cannot wait to learn more in college and hopefully come back and apply it at Apple next summer.”
Abbas Mohammad (SFSU), VoloMedia:“I start my day with product testing. Every day I would get a list of podcasts that did not play, download, or the ads did not stitch. I’d go through the list and identify the problem and report back to the Engineering team to fix it. This job has a big impact on my goals and what I will do in future years. It gave me first hand experience in a field of interest.”
Dallas Teo (Stanford University), Eastside College Prep: “I taught a group of 11 incoming freshmen creative writing. One of the greatest things I learned was that my passion for teaching students of color continues to grow. I especially loved it when my students engrossed themselves in the daily writing activities. Reading about some of the horrible life circumstances reminded me of my tenure as a high school student.What struck me most was that these students did not view themselves as victims – each of them has made it his/her life’s goal to succeed despite the obstacles.”
Evelyn Montiel (USC), PG&E HR Intern: “I have been working in the HR department in diversity recruiting, and I didn’t have a specific task coming in, so I have been assigned to various tasks. Overall, I have had a great experience working at PG&E, and I love all the people. I am actually very happy to go to work every day.”
Giovanni Mata Magana (Santa Clara University), Hewlett Packard: “This summer I am working with a Mechanical Engineer in testing and designing HP mobile phones. My internship gave me the opportunity to get the inside scoop of the industry.This job can be stressful at times, but nevertheless I enjoy working and feeling the stress of time deadlines.At HP I have the opportunity to use what I have learned in school. I am finally doing something that can potentially be something I do in the future.”
Sarah Bayless (Mills College), 826 Valencia: “I worked under Eugenie Howard-Johnston, Programs Coordinator,at826Valencia. I did many things every day, but my main job was helping with the summer workshops program. I ran my own workshop, called Story Time, for three consecutive Fridays, where I read a story to a group of nine 4-7 year olds and then monitored an interactive activity that included something from the story. My whole internship was a wonderful experience. It gave me the reassurance I needed to understand that I am a quick learner, and that I am a competent and positive contributor. I think the most beneficial thing I take away from this experience is the self-confidence boost.”
Vania Ellison (Cal State Northridge) Steele Lane Elementary School and UCSF Center on Deafness: “I achieved exactly what I wanted this summer - to explore my options. I was torn between becoming an interpreter, social worker, or teacher. My elementary school internship inspired me to make a difference in the lives of the deaf and hard of hearing children.I want to succeed by making a difference -- this is where I believe I will find my happiness.”
Here is the list of summer internships held by our students:
Aaron Jones (St. Mary’s College), McKesson Summer Youth Development Program
Alexandra Lujan (UC Berkeley), Starbucks
AlfonsoTaylor (Ohio Wesleyan) McKesson Summer Youth Development Program
Ali Rucker (Wellesley College), McKesson Summer Youth Development Program
Alsidneio Bell (Morehouse College), Boys & Girls Club Summer Camp
Alvin Somwaru (SFSU), McKesson Summer Youth Development Program
Anastasia Novzhiloa (Brandeis University), MediaPlanet, Matsugen
AnthonyAnekwe (Brown University),UCSF Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute
Amanda Piercy (UC Berkeley), SF Unified School District’s Law Academy
Amily He (Harvard) Van Shung Chong Holdings Ltd.
Andrea Williams (UC Davis), Jump Start
Anitra Smith (UC Davis), Alameda Health Consortium, Health Career Connection
Byron Wilson (SFSU),Duane Morris Law Firm, Eddie Bauer
Cierra Hill (University of Richmond), AAA
Evita Yarborough (Long Beach State), AAA
Jessica Acosta (Colby College), AngelPoints
Josué Hernández (UC Santa Barbara), McKesson Summer Youth Development Program
Julian Merino (UC Davis),McKesson Summer Youth Development Program
Kiraa Lillard (University of Missouri), UCSF Department of Urology
Krisandra Adams (Oberlin College), McKesson Summer Youth Development Program
Lily Dorman-Colby (Yale),American Bar Association Center on Children & Law
Lino Ochoa (Laney College), UC Berkeley Extension
Marisol Ortiz-Melendrez (UC Santa Cruz), Boys & Girls Club Summer Camp
MayaBarnes (CSU Northridge),Oakland Community Service
Mayra Vega (Wesleyan), Robert E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program
Nina Torres (Columbia University), McKesson Summer Youth Development Program
Nate Klemin (Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo), Pacific Gas & Electric
Pedro Jimenez (Oral Roberts), Maryland Summer Camp
Samantha Carter (Brown University), City of Berkeley Health Department, Mathnasium
Souly Nachamphone (UC Berkeley), McKesson Summer Youth Development Program
Thuy Nguyen (USF), SF Marriott – Hospitality Industry Career Development Practicum
Tiffany Camero (UC Santa Cruz), McKesson Summer Youth Development Program
Tyisha Higgins (SFSU) Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
Vania Ellison (Cal State Northridge), Steele Lane
Elementary School, UCSF Center on Deafness
Yaqiao Li (UC Berkeley), UCSF Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute
HIGHLIGHT NEWS
Super Grads
SRA students are graduating from four-year colleges and universities at a much higher rate than is typical for students who come from similar backgrounds. Presently, 80% of SRA students graduate from four-year universities. It takes SRA students on average 4.5 years to complete a Bachelors Degree. In comparison, nationally, an average of 38.5% of low-income, first generation college goers will graduate from a four-year college and it will take them six years to complete their degree.
DONOR’S CORNER
ANNUAL GALA - Save the Date!
Mark your calendars now – our annual Gala will be held on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco. Meet our students, learn their stories, and help send them to college. Thank you to Gail Diserens who is chairing this year’s Gala and her outstanding committee of volunteers. Interested in attending or contributing to the Gala? More information can be found on our website: www. studentsrisingabove.org or call us at 415.333.4222. Join us for this memorable evening.
STUDENT UPDATES
Want to learn more about our remarkable students and what they are doing now? Visit http://cbs5.com/ students to get updates on our students currently attending college and our recent graduates. To learn more about SRA and how to apply to our program visit www.studentsrisingabove.org.
©2008 Students Rising Above