WESTFIELD — Before introducing Westfield High School Career Center Counselor Patty Healy to the School Committee on Dec. 1, Principal Charles Jendrysik said the internship program for seniors at the school is thriving.
“We’ve had our internship program going for a number of years now, but this is the third year that it’s run under Patty. We’ve seen it grow, we’ve seen the quality of the programming grow, and the quality of the internships get stronger throughout the years, and we thought it would be exciting for you guys to hear some of the experiences that our students are having in the community,” Jendrysik said.
Healy, who had brought five students with her to speak about their internships, said there are currently 38 students, all seniors, in the program this semester, and the interest continues to expand.
She said the career center has evolved a little bit, and they are getting some great true internships in career fields the students are interested in learning more about before they graduate from high school.
The largest area is the medical field. Healy said she has students in physical therapy, radiology, oncology, skilled nursing and behavioral health. She also has her first student intern in the engineering field at ProAmpac.
The second largest area of interest is education, with students in both the middle school and elementary schools. She also has students at Armbrook Village, the Westfield Fire Department, Westfield Dispatch 911 and Mountainview Landscaping.
“One of my favorite things to see was watching one of my students put up the goal posts. Almost everyone here I have seen in action; it’s one thing I require of the students to go see them in their positions,” Healy said.
She said she also had the unique experience of going to the Westfield Fire Department and watching one in action there, while another was coming over the dispatch. She then introduced the student interns.
Mohammad Awais Shahid said he was in his second year interning at the school’s Free Web Clinic, in which students redesign and create websites for local businesses and organizations using WordPress. Shahid said it has helped him apply his knowledge to real-life situations, and he is more aware of the skills he needs to succeed in the field. He plans to go to college for cybersecurity, web design and development. “I’m excited to keep learning as I complete my placement,” he said.
Chris Shea is interning at the Westfield Fire Department on Broad Street. “It has really opened my eyes. A few of my uncles are firefighters, and this internship has helped show me I really want to do it,” Shea said. He mentioned that the two firefighters who are mentoring him are “amazing.” “I go on ambulance calls – I can’t do anything, just watch.” Shea said he signed up for an EMT course at Westfield State University in January and plans to work for an ambulance service, and then sign up to be a paramedic.
Jack Stathatos, who is an intern at Westfield Regional Dispatch, said he also wants to be a firefighter. “I have been able to see how all situations play out. I’ve talked to people over the radio; I’ve dispatched Chris. I want to join an EMT program and start my journey to become a firefighter,” Stathatos said. He said he will continue to get a paramedic’s license and then enter the field as an intern, or through an ambulance service.
Kylee O’Grady said her plans after high school are to attend a 4 + 1 college, where she will double major in education and math. Her internship has placed her at Westfield Middle School in an Algebra I class with Mrs Guyott.
“I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity. The internship has allowed me to help in the classroom, teach and lesson plan, and form relationships with the students. It gives you hands-on experience in the career you want to spend the rest of your life in,” O’Grady said.
Morgan Harlin has an internship at Holyoke Medical Center in the oncology unit. She said not only has the internship confirmed that she was correct in what she wanted to do with her future, but it helped her grow and become more confident in her future career. She said the staff is always supportive and goes above and beyond to explain new things.
“The amazing patients are just the same,” Harlin said. Starting my day with them every morning has been a blessing.” She said she plans to become a nurse practitioner specializing in oncology.
“If you listen to all five of them, they are all five of them in areas to help other people. I congratulate you all on what you’re doing with them,” said School Committee member Bo Sullivan after they spoke.
“For seniors, I think this type of program is extremely beneficial. It gives them a chance to see a future career in action for good or for bad before attending college. They also learn from numerous individuals at each location. Students not only learn the ins and outs of the career, but they learn the path others took to get there,” Healy said after the meeting.
She said all of the internships right now are unpaid, but she is open to placing students in paid internships as well. She tells the students it’s a learning process. “You’ve got to put your time in. If you finish what you started, do a good job, prove you’re a good worker, it sets the stage.”
Healy said she is always open for someone to offer a position for a student. Usually, a student comes to them with ideas, but if the reverse happens and a business comes to them offering a position, they will try to find someone to fill the position.
There are currently students waiting in three big areas, electrical, esthetician-cosmetology, and medical, where they are working on getting more placements. She said Baystate Noble and Holyoke Medical Center have been wonderful, and they’ve reached out to a few other places.
Healy said if any business is interested in getting a student intern, they can reach out to the Westfield High School office and let them know the position, the qualifications needed and the time of day. She said the goal is 10 hours minimum, although they do have students who spend more time than that, including one at the ER who stays late outside of internship hours one day a week because he loves it.
“I have the greatest job at the high school. It’s wonderful,” Healy said.
