MDY High School Internships Providing Lifetime Opportunities

Every senior in Magen David Yeshivah High School (MDYHS) will agree that we were given the opportunity of a lifetime and an experience that we’ll never forget. Instead of spending our final weeks as seniors simply within the confines of the MDY building, we were out in the real world, working.

Beginning in the fall of senior year, Associate Principal Sabrina Maleh, who launched the program in the 2008-2009 academic year, met individually with each student to discuss possible areas of interest. Months of research and many phone calls later, all the seniors were lucky enough to find an internship in the field that they were interested in pursuing.

As interns, we were thrown into the working world, not knowing what to expect. The experience was unlike anything we have ever gone through. For the last two months, from Monday to Thursday, we were not students; we were on our own, working from 9 to 5, scattered all over New York. Some of us worked in Downtown Brooklyn and some on Wall Street. We were faced with challenges and problems; we were put into situations that we weren’t comfortable with. It was scary and exciting, but we were very well prepared.

Experiential learning is a contemporary axiom in educational philosophy, and, for the past five years, Magen David Yeshivah Celia Esses High School has applied this concept through its Senior Internship Program. Students gain practical and real world job experience that helps them clarify career goals that match their academic and personal interests while establishing a network of contacts, mentors, and references.

We weren’t alone. Through the journal entries recording our progress and range of experiences (and submitted daily), we were in constant contact with the MDY internship team. The talented counselors and staff lived our experiences with us and supported us through every step we took. They were ready to guide us when problems arose and they were there to rejoice at our accomplishments. Their questions ranged from how we felt at the beginning of the work day to what we do, from what we learned to the funniest thing that happened while we were at work. They wanted to know everything! With their help and guidance, we were able to persevere and succeed.

At the Friday career seminars and advisory meetings back at MDY, we connected after a long week. Fridays were a time to recognize the accomplishments of our fellow students, to commend one another, and to share our experiences. The internship team took this time to motivate us, encouraging us to make every week better than the previous one. With their pep talks and support, we went back to work every Monday ready to take on anything.

So what have we gained as interns? I was fortunate enough to secure an internship at the Jewish IMAGE Magazine, working as the assistant to the editor. I couldn’t be more appreciative of this opportunity that allowed me to be a real part of the professional staff from the very first day. This internship gave me a glimpse into what it’s like to work for a magazine. Before interning there, I couldn’t see myself sitting at a computer, researching topics and writing articles. I’ve always loved to write stories; fiction always has been my thing, but this internship has made me reconsider. I can now see myself working for a magazine and I have come to love this type of journalism.  In the last two months, I’ve learned so much. Writing is a skill that develops over time and with experience. This internship gave me both.

Assisting an occupational therapist, Frieda Arzt’s experience truly was hands-on. She watched students, helped cognitively and physically by giving them puzzles to quicken their minds and silly putty to strengthen their grasps. “We catered to what the child needed, depending on his or her strengths and weaknesses,” she said, adding the children’s conditions ranged from autism to cerebral palsy. Her students were extremely motivated to imitate what others did. Watching children push themselves every day and learning how to deal with their frustration, Frieda now understands that patience is key, and sometimes the only solution, to problems.

She feels there is no greater joy than watching a student succeed and she saw small miracles happen daily. Frieda also learned some important life lessons from her young clients: appreciate what you have that others don’t, keep believing, and never give up. Because of her amazing experiences, Frieda can’t wait to pursue a career in occupational therapy.

At the end of his internship, Eli Azrack knows he wants to be a cardiologist and is determined to do everything in his power to make that possible. Each day, for the past two months, Eli arrived at the office and watched as the doctor examined patients. After each examination, the doctor explained the condition to Eli, and then had him research the topic for further discussion the following day. Eli observed echocardiograms, as well as electrocardiograms and nuclear stress tests. This internship proved to Eli that he wants to commit to all the hard work and responsibility that comes along with being a doctor.

Though Marie Betesh always had a passion for law, never gave up on an argument, and was able to think on her feet, landing an internship with a judge helped her realize just how strong that attraction really is. She discussed the trials she observed with the judge, who taught her many legal terms, shared his thoughts on how the case might turn out, and explained why he preferred one attorney’s courtroom statement rather than the other’s. “I feel like I’m one step ahead of the game,” said Marie, adding that she had an amazing experience “that most high school students never have had or ever will have.” This internship helped her gain a better understanding of the field of law.

Though she had worked in a summer playgroup and enjoyed being around children, Linda Shamula’s two months as an assistant to a kindergarten teacher in the Magen David Early Childhood program clarified a decision to pursue a career as an early childhood educator. Every morning saw her walking into the building with a smile on her face, eager to greet the children. She prayed with them, set up for snack time, played with them during recess, and helped them with their projects. Whether it was sounding out words or teaching them the aleph bet, Linda always was ready to help. She loved interacting with the young children, and felt there was nothing better than watching them use the word of the day in a sentence. This experience taught her how to respond to different situations and how to deal with classroom problems. Her love for children only grew through this experience.

Each and every senior is grateful to Magen David and our employers for the advantage of knowing what to expect when we really go out on our own and to the MDY internship staff for helping us determine if we really can dedicate ourselves to a particular career. The opportunity to intern for two months was Magen David’s last gift to its seniors.

Joanie Kraiem is a member of MDYHS’ Class of 2013 and recipient of the 2013 MDYHS Intern of the Year Award. We at IMAGE are very proud of her. Congratulations on graduating, Joanie.