Working 9 To 5

For some seniors, high school ends with a taste of the real world.

Back to the basics: The author, left, at work in her former elementary school. Hannah Pasternak, below, spent her senior internship working at the Nesiya office. There she was able to try out a job in a non-profit organization, a potential future career for her.

by Daniella Herszfeld

When I graduated from the Adolph Schreiber Hebrew Academy of Rockland (ASHAR) in Monsey to move on to high school, I never imagined I would be back there again. Little did I know, four years later I would be working there for three weeks.
It all began in January when one of our teachers said that at the end of our senior year we were going to be required to fulfill an internship. The internship could consist of any type of work. We were required to work 131 hours which meant working everyday for three weeks from nine in the morning until five in the afternoon with no pay. We should intern in a field that might interest us for our future careers. A

little surprised by the hours involved, I knew I had to find something that I would really enjoy.
I did a little research and decided that because I was interested in either psychology or education I would intern at ASHAR, the elementary school I had attended. I received a job in the early childhood program as a kindergarten assistant. It felt a little weird walking into the same classroom that I had walked into 15 years ago; however, after seeing my former kindergarten teacher I immediately felt very comfortable. It brought back many memories from when I was a student at ASHAR.
My working experience at ASHAR has been great. I’ve learned a lot about classroom dynamics, teaching styles and about preschool aged children.
Many high schools include an internship program in the senior year curriculum. Some schools involved include Ma’ayanot, Torah Academy of Bergen County (TABC), Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School and Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls.
“By the time AP exams role around it seems appropriate to allow those taking APs to prepare appropriately and to allow those not taking those exams to engage in a productive, stimulating experience,” said Ma’ayanot Principal Rookie Billet about establishing an internship program. The Ma’ayanot program began in 2000 with seniors interning on Fridays throughout the school year. In 2005 the program changed and students interned for the whole month of May.
Senior internships allow students to get a taste of the real world, of working with supervisors and adult colleagues, and of the responsibilities and demands of a position in the work force. “Students who take the program seriously and work consistently and enthusiastically at what they have chosen tend to give the program excellent reviews,” Billet said.
Different schools require different amount of hours. TABC, for example, requires a completion of only 85 hours of work. “The hours are a little long but the time goes by quickly,” said Avi Sonnenblick, a senior at TABC who is interning at the office of Elie Y. Katz, a politician in Teaneck, N.J. “The experience is great and I am really learning a lot about politics and the amount of time that goes into a campaign.”
From the students’ perspectives the internship program seems great. It has given students an opportunity for independence and responsibility, something not stressed in a typical classroom setting.
Hannah Pasternak, a senior at Ma’ayanot, is interning at Nesiya, a non-profit organization that aims to enrich Jewish life for North American and Israeli young people. Hannah was lucky enough to go to Israel with Nesiya in 2006 and since then has really tried to give back in whatever way she can. Hannah is interning at the New York City office covering for one of their key personnel who is on a personal leave. “Grades count for less and less as senior year goes on and this is a fantastic way of ending the year with a feeling of accomplishment,” Hannah said.
The hardest part of the job is the hourlong commute from Livingston, N.J. into the city. However, this is compensated by the fact that she knows what she is doing is important. She feels that she is getting a good sense of what it would be like to work at a non-profit organization, a place Hannah sees herself working one day. “Overall, it’s just a really empowering experience,” she said.
For others the internship program is really a taste for the future. “The internship program is truly inspiring,” said Jessie Kreitman, a senior at Ma’ayanot. Jessie is interning at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in the department for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress, an office of experimental psychologists that help treat patients with anxiety and stress related disorders.
Jessie is interested in pursuing a career in psychology. Although she does not yet know what field of psychology she’d like to pursue, for Jessie this internship is an excellent starting point. Her boss’ career is truly moving and is a motivation; she began as an intern and worked her way up. “If she can do it, so can I,” Jessie said. Her internship experience has set the groundwork for her future career.
Many students feel that this program is a great opportunity to do something they never would have the time to do. Dina Lustiger and Leora Ohevshalom, seniors at Ma’ayanot, are volunteering at a place called Pony Power in Mahwah, N.J. Pony Power is a therapeutic horseback riding center that addresses the needs of children and adults with physical, emotional and behavioral issues. The therapy helps these individuals gain independence and self confidence and strengthen their means of communication.
“My overall experience at Pony Power has been incredible; to see such a rapid change in these people in just a few days is truly rewarding,” said Dina.
“The job includes grooming the horses each morning and leading them on an exercise before they are sent out to ride,” Leora explained. “We also have learned to ‘lead walk’ and ‘side walk’ which involves guiding the horse and assisting the riders as well as providing support and encouragement for each rider.”
Dina adds that being outdoors instead of inside in an office is an opportunity that does not come around often.
Many schools, however, choose not to require internships. With AP exams, finals, and regents many schools feel that there is not enough time to experience an internship. Some seniors with an excess of free time find paying jobs.
“Although we do not have internships, between studying for AP exams and giving swimming lessons daily, I have been keeping myself busy and getting paid at the same time,” said Gabby Kigler, a senior at The Frisch School in Paramus, N.J., a school that does not require senior internships.
The internship program instituted in my school and in many others is a great learning and growth experience. It gives students a sense of responsibility and commitment and a feel for their future. Although commuting is difficult and the lack of payment is annoying, the experience really seems to outweigh these issues.
My experience at ASHAR has taught me a lot about myself and a lot about preschool children. I see how much patience and tolerance is needed for the job and how rewarding it is at the end of the day. It is interesting to see the impact of the teacher’s every word on the students and what a difference a good teacher makes on a child’s future. It is amazing to see how the students interact with one another and how their personalities develop at such a young age.
My internship has also helped me focus on what I am looking for in the future. I remain interested in education and psychology; however, early childhood is definitely something to consider even though it was never an option beforehand. The internship has really helped me consolidate my goals for college. I definitely have a head start on my future.
The internship program is an experience I will never forget and I will take with me wherever I go. I thank Ma’ayanot for giving me this opportunity. n
Daniella Herszfeld is a senior at Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls in Teaneck, N.J.

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