By Julia Trost, staff writer
The Intern/Mentor program at River Hill offers students the opportunity to participate in an internship of their choice, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has made this incredibly difficult. With strict rules and regulations at countless hospitals and universities, students are finding creative ways to secure in-person internships while making the best of their experiences.
Along with traditional in-person internships, students have the choice of completing a hybrid internship or Research in Practice, a completely virtual experience.
Depending on the career field, hybrid internships come with their disadvantages. Students are missing out on hands-on activities, but they are still guaranteed the valuable support of a knowledgeable professional.
Shreya Katuri, a senior and Intern/Mentor student for the past two years, emphasized, “I didn’t get the most out of the internship because it was virtual and medical. I was lucky enough to have a good mentor that gave me as many opportunities but I know a lot of other people weren’t as lucky.”
Many hospitals are still not allowing students into the building, such as Howard County General Hospital, University of Maryland Medical Center and Mercy Medical Center. As a result, students are utilizing family and friend connections to secure mentors in their fields of interest.
If students are unable to locate a mentor, they participate in the Research in Practice program. Here, they are expected to attend speaker sessions, which consist of professionals who present about their respective careers over Google Meet. Students prepare questions ahead of time and write a reflection after each presentation to earn their internship hours. Along with attending presentations, they can also enroll in online classes and conduct interviews.
Tisha Patel, a senior who took advantage of the Research in Practice program in 2020, explained, “It was a great opportunity to learn about different practices. I ended up learning something even though I didn’t really think I would because I’m studying patent law which is a really specific field but I ended up learning a lot from different speakers and professors.”
Luckily for Mia Choi, finding a mentor was not difficult: “I asked someone I had worked with in another program for nearly two years. My internship is currently hybrid, so I go in once a week and have virtual check-ins once a week.”
After countless emails and never-ending research, all students have been placed with a mentor for the 2021-2022 school year with the continuous support of Ms. Sharbaugh, the GT resource teacher. Ultimately, in a year full of challenges, students enrolled in the Intern/Mentor program are engaging in life-changing learning experiences, no matter whether they are virtual or in-person.
As Choi stated, “The Intern/Mentor program is a one-of-a-kind experience because it gives me a lot of independence and responsibility.”