Jonathan
High School
The Benefits of the Right Internship
When Jonathan, a high school student at Georgia Connections Academy, was given the chance to participate in a unique internship called Teamship, he was more than interested. He was genuinely excited.
Jonathan knew that Teamship, created by an organization called District C, offered a different kind of internship experience — one in which teams of students are coached to solve real problems for real businesses. In a nutshell, Teamship helps prepare students for our tech-driven world by helping them develop a very human skill highly valued by today’s employers: work in a diverse team to solve complex problems.
According to Jonathan, “When I first heard about Teamship, I was interested because I wanted to work for a company and help solve their problems. … I was also excited to work with a team because I'd have to get out of my shell to collaborate with people.”
Becoming More Open-Minded and Less Shy
Jonathan and his team worked to solve a real-world challenge for Modi, an online clothing retailer whose app allows shoppers to try clothes on virtually before buying them.
“Many people would use Modi to virtually try on various outfits but wouldn’t purchase the product,” reports Jonathan. “And if they didn't buy anything, Modi wouldn't make any money.”
“Our team met on Zoom three times a week for four weeks. Each session would last about two and a half hours. For the first 30 minutes we’d listen to a lesson explaining how to use certain tools and get useful tips on how to collaborate.
“We used Google Docs so the business partner who worked with us was able to see what we were doing. At the end of each day there was a chart that would give us encouraging messages because they saw how hard we were working … stuff like, ‘Keep up the good work. I liked how you did so-and-so.’
“I would typically have to speak up to share my ideas and suggestions, and I'd also have to stay open-minded. Doing this helped me become a better leader and get out of my shell. I'm not that shy anymore.”
Coming Up with Real Solutions to Real Problems
Finally, the day came for Jonathan’s team to present their ideas. Reports Jonathan, “I was really nervous on pitch day and had a difficult time trying to speak in front of everyone. But I felt like I did a pretty good job. I had made friends with everyone on the team, and we all felt like we did well.
“The Modi people liked our pitch ideas and asked if we’d share the slides we presented. … One of the ideas we came up with was that there would be a fee based on the number of try-ons, which would add a certain percentage to the cost of the clothing.
“I would definitely encourage others, especially introverts, to experience this internship program. Most of my peers were also introverted, but at the end of the day, we were able to get the work done and collaborate well.
“I really enjoyed Teamship, and I would like to do it again. It does a good job of building leaders and helping introverts get out their shell. It also helps people learn to come up with practical ideas that solve problems.”
What does the future hold for Jonathan? “I want to be an indie animator and a programmer to make games and robots and stuff like that.”
“At my old [brick-and-mortar] school I was more introverted and shy. But after this experience I know I don't have to be that way, that I just need to stay confident.”
— Jonathan
Student internships like District C’s Teamship are just one way many Connections Academy schools help prepare students to succeed. Whether a student is planning to attend college or immediately join the workforce, our schools provide meaningful opportunities, guidance, and support. Check to see if your school offers student internships.