Middletown South Seniors Get a Taste of Real World

The last month of senior year is often filled with talks of summer plans, yearbook signings and final exams, and occasionally a rash of 'senioritis' even breaks out.

That was not the case, however, for 13 Middletown South students who spent the last four weeks interning around Monmouth County. They found internships in a variety of career fields, including mortgage firms, court houses, elementary schools and environmental advocacy groups. 

Gianna Fischer and Derek Noah interned with Clean Ocean Action in Sandy Hook.

"They were really good at getting us involved in hands-on projects," Fischer said. She recalled being sent to Asbury Park along when President Obama visited to talk to people about important environmental issues to beach communities.

"I plan on majoring in environmental science," said Noah. "This was a good start to get my feet wet in the environmental field."

This was the first year that Middletown South ran the internship program, according to Kristen Oches, who spearheaded the program with fellow teacher Rae Koumoulis. The idea, Oches said, came about during a committee meeting last year. 

"We've gotten phenomenal feedback from the students," she said. "It gives them an opportunity to put the skills they learned in school to use."

Students had to have a certain grade point average as well as get approval from their teachers, administrators and parents to participate. After completing an interview process to be selected for the program, each student went out and found an internship they were interested in. Throughout the four-week program, they were required to keep an online daily blog about their day in the field. The program culminated with a presentation on their experience.

"Once we started seeing your daily blogs, we were really amazed," said Oche to her students at the internship fair. "Everyone was doing such wonderful things at their work sites. It was really exciting to see you working and becoming an integral part of your work site."

The hope is to grow the program in the future, Oches said.

Koumoulis thanked Middletown South Principal Patrick Rinella for standing behind the program.

"He's been really supportive of new and innovative programs at the high school," she said.