IBM Internship Helps Students Build Career Skills

As part of its continuing investment in work-based learning, Connections Academy partnered with IBM to create a short-term virtual internship in the Spring of 2026.

If you ever meet Daniel Songs, you will quickly learn that he has a particular interest in old tech and electronics. Keyboards, monitors, and computers are spread throughout his room. The recent Texas Connections Academy graduate loves finding them, taking them apart, studying how they work, and putting them back together. In many cases, he puts them back to good use. His knowledge and interest have even led him to build his own computer.

So, when the Houston area senior and his mother, Florence, heard about an opportunity to intern at global technology innovator IBM, they jumped at the chance. Much to their delight, Daniel was accepted into the new virtual internship program.

“Honestly, it was awesome,” Daniel said about the program. “Before it, I felt like I was the only one with my interests. But in the internship, I met others with similar interests.”

“I loved seeing how their confidence grew as they went through the program,” said Eric Vermeer, Daniel’s IBM mentor and a 17-year senior security architect for the tech giant. “Even in a short amount of time, they are able to do high-quality work—the sorts of tasks that employees at IBM are expected to do.”

*Eric Vermeer and Daniel Songs meet at Pearson’s Austin Office*

For students nationwide, this is the dream scenario: to intern as a high school student with seasoned professionals at a historic and admired company like IBM.

So, how did Connections Academy pull it all off? And perhaps the bigger question for parents and students is: how can they find similar opportunities?

Finding like-minded companies willing to invest in early talent development

First, the backstory. The internship came about because the College & Career Readiness team at Connections Academy is always seeking best-in-class businesses to partner with. The online public school actively searches for companies that (a) will be a good example to students, helping them build key knowledge, skills d Mia, and experience, and (b) are happy to have their employees serve as mentors for the short-term virtual internship program. “We have been so fortunate to find like-minded companies that are happy to partner and encourage their employees to volunteer as mentors,” said Mia Bartlett, the internship creator and Hof Impact for Connections Academy.

Once they’ve partnered with a business, the team trains employees from that business to become mentors, equipping them with a structured program to use across the five-week internship. . “I think a critical part of the program is that we don’t just train and prep the students; we train and prepare the mentors, too. We make the process as easy as possible for them,” said Mia. The team also identifies students and matches them with mentors based on performance and subject matter interest. The role of the mentor is to fill the program with lessons and assignments that will help students grasp key concepts and build foundational skills over the five weeks.

A weekly schedule might look like this:

Mentors create a series of assignments, often research projects that require students to explore a particular subject on their own time.
Assignments are sent out on Monday, and students have a few days to complete the work. Students are allowed to email mentors with questions throughout the week.
On Friday, the students and mentors have a call to discuss that week’s assignment. The mentors offer instruction, and students are given time to present their findings to the mentor and their peers.
The process continues until the final project and presentation in week five.

When Eric Vermeer at IBM first heard about the program, he was eager to give it a try. It seemed like a natural fit; he enjoys coaching and mentoring and frequently works with new hires at IBM. But he was also a bit unsure how it would all work.But by using the structure Connections Academy provided, he was able to add his own training content to the template, and things went smoothly. “It was good to have [Connections Academy] come up with the plan I could use,” he said. “It took a lot of the questions out of it.”

*Eric Vermeer talks to Daniel Songs at IBM’s Austin office.*

Eric turned out to be the perfect fit as a mentor, in part because of his strong belief in the value of internships. “Internships put knowledge into practice in real-world situations,” he said. “They allow students to make pivots to find the job that they are best suited to—and they give them a chance to actually get the job.”

Internships are equally valuable to employers, Eric went on, noting that internships help companies create their own pool of high-value candidates to hire from. “Internships help companies bring in skilled employees who can make a difference from day one,” he said.

In fact, many businesses are actively looking for candidates who have had internships, “because people who have had internships have been able to validate and apply their learning and skills in a work setting,” Eric said. “They have a better feel for the world of work. They are more likely to be a strong hire.”

Eric opened his program with a basic introduction to cybersecurity. In week one, he reviewed what security means and how it plays out online. He also taught the students that cybersecurity professionals need to begin by getting familiar with the perspective of what “attackers” or hostile entities want.

In subsequent weeks, Eric moved on to the principles of defense. As his students progressed through the internship, they were ultimately introduced to cloud security and IBM’s strategies for helping companies improve their security.

To bring the program to life, Eric had each student create their own fictional company to defend against cyberattacks. Students invented companies in a variety of industries: healthcare, gaming, e-commerce, and so on. Daniel’s choice was a coffee company he named Brew Basket, a roaster entering the e-commerce space. “I could really see each student’s interest and personality in the companies they chose,” Eric said.

*Daniel Songs shows off some of the work he prepared for the IBM internship.*

The assignments culminated with a bit of role-play. The students acted as IBM employees brought in to advise the fictional companies on a potential cybersecurity strategy and how they could protect themselves.

Creating unique value and developing foundational human skills

As Daniel reflected on what he learned through the program, he said, “It was really engaging because I never realized how much actually goes into cybersecurity. It was new to me. And now I know there is so much more to learn about it.”

Daniel’s mom, Florence, also noticed a big change in him as a result of the program. “When he completed the program, he was so excited. He created a LinkedIn account so he could connect to his mentor.”

*Florence and Daniel Songs at IBM’s Austin office*

Many of us might assume that the primary skills gained through an internship in a field like cybersecurity would be rather technical or subject-matter-based, and yes, the students did learn technical skills. But they also notably gained a multitude of human skills (aka soft skills or durable skills).

For example:

Upon reflecting on the greatest value that the students gained in the internship, Eric said that each intern acted like an IBM consultant doing real work for the company. “Each one of them dug into their scenarios and did a fantastic job of presenting like an actual employee would. They struck a good balance between the technical side and clear, simple communication.”

Florence noticed that Daniel had developed many leadership skills. “He learned that being a leader doesn’t have to mean that you are in charge of everyone,” she said. “It means you take responsibility for the tasks or work in front of you and help the people around you.” She added, “He is now the IT guy for our house and makes sure that everyone in the family is being much safer online.”

Daniel said the most important skills he gained were leadership, teamwork, time management, and communication—all human skills—as well as a basic understanding of how cybersecurity works. “It feels different than normal school work. I feel more confident when presenting now.”

This is exactly what Mia Bartlett and the Connections Academy College & Career Readiness team were hoping for. “Internships are key to students building their skills muscle,” said Mia. “They are a great place to work on durable skills like communication, conflict resolution, and grit”—the very skills businesses are looking for. The fact that the interns were able to apply these skills in a work-based learning environment with IBM has given them an enormous leg up as they begin their journey beyond high school and enter into the world of work.

New perspective on post-high school life

Overall, the feedback from Daniel, his mom, and his mentor is incredibly encouraging, but not simply because the program went well and was enjoyed by students and mentors alike. Far more important is the career success foundation the program fostered in such a short time. In many ways, the internship entirely shifted Daniel’s career outlook.

“I feel like I can roll with whatever challenge comes my way,” he said. “I am most excited to start my college courses. I can take on a lot of different subjects—everything from computer science to data science to cybersecurity. I am more confident in my ability to get help and find resources if I ever struggle with a particular subject.” He also hopes to develop his knowledge and skills so he can work at IBM one day.

The internship gave Daniel valuable skills, but it also instilled in him the realization that he doesn’t need to know everything in order to launch confidently. He now knows how to build a network and how to find help and resources if he ever needs them—that is the key.

His mother, Florence, made a similar observation. “Connections Academy and the internship prepared him for postsecondary education,” she said. “The school and the internship provided him with a structure he really enjoys. Before, I was a little worried about how he would do. But now I see he is ready to go. He is operating at a higher level. He is ready for college courses. He is interested in things that are more advanced, and he knows how to find help if he ever needs it. I really feel like he is on the right path.”

“I’m eager to see where the students go in their careers,” Eric said finally. “I’ve connected to all of them on LinkedIn and will be tracking their progress.” He also noted that, “They are ready to make real contributions. And they are already looking into how they can pursue more opportunities.”

*Eric, Florence, and Daniel visit at IBM’s Innovation Studio*

How Students Can Get Involved

So, how can your student get involved with internships at Connections Academy? The team at Connections Academy is already planning the next round of internships and is seeking more companies and mentors.

For more information on Connections Academy and how students can benefit from an adaptable, career-focused online learning experience, request information today.