Noorulain
High School Student
The Internship that Transformed a Student’s Life
Noorulain, a senior at Indiana Connections Academy, grew up in a very Indian household and had a very Indian accent. “Growing up, a lot of people didn't understand me,” she says. “So, I became quiet-spoken. I was soft-spoken and insecure.
“I developed this coping mechanism to just not talk and to kind of stay out of the main picture and let everyone else do the work because I didn't want to distract people. I didn't want to waste time. That's always been an insecurity of mine because it's just something other people have found annoying and have told me about.
“I was always kind of shoved out of projects because I never really did contribute anything because I was just so insecure. So, it kind of destroyed the way I looked at working as a team.”
Little did Noorulain know how much that would change and how much confidence she would develop.
An Internship that Worked Wonders
Noorulain was given the chance to take part in an innovative internship created by an organization called District C, and she took it. Simply put, District C’s mission is to help prepare students for tomorrow’s work world by teaming and training them to solve real problems for real businesses.
Noorulain’s team was asked to help a company called GameFlo create and market a new card game designed to provide healthy alternatives to screen time while nurturing imagination and making learning fun.
The team met via Zoom a few times each week for a few months. The sessions were lengthy and demanding but fun. According to Noorulain, “We learned about much more than just the business project we were assigned. We learned about communicating with each other and how to do it respectfully and have a conversation over Zoom without having awkward pauses and things like that.
“I learned how to organize my work and manage my time really well. I became less and less nervous about sharing my ideas and talking to people. … It was an enlightening experience. … I felt like I was finally seeing the world through a different lens. It just felt easier to do things.
“The whole experience has helped me learn how to shape my thoughts and has made me think more clearly and just less messy. I always felt mentally cluttered and that my thoughts were scattered every time I brainstormed or had a task to do.”
Learning How to Disagree with People
“I remember going on my first job interview soon after the District C program ended and I just had so much more confidence in my ability to talk to people and collaborate with a team. Before District C, I had so much anxiety when I talked to people, especially in classrooms when there was a project and we had to partner with another student. I struggled with that so much.
“But during District C, I overcame that struggle while talking to other students I had never met in my life. I felt more confident in what I had to say and what I had to add to a project. And I felt more confident in the way I spoke to people, because I was always insecure about how I sounded—my voice and how I pronounced words.
“I now feel prepared to talk to different people with different points of view. I've learned how to disagree with people respectfully and also share my ideas respectfully. And I've learned to not put my ideas on top of everyone else's. So, I just feel prepared to talk to different people with different mindsets and goals. I also feel prepared for a work environment that's very fast.”
What the Future May Hold for Noorulain
“My District C experience definitely made me interested in marketing. I couldn't stop thinking about it afterward. It just felt so natural to me to talk with people and express my ideas in that way. It wasn't something too complicated. Before the program I was confused about my career choice and what I liked and was passionate about.
“During District C I learned how much I loved talking with people. The insecurity I had before the program had been stopping me from experiencing that and from knowing it. After the program, I felt so relieved that I had finally found something I liked and have so much passion for.”
“Over time, I felt more confident throwing myself out there, especially meeting with the coaches and business CEO we were working with.”
— Noorulain
Student internships like District C’s 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.