[image_lightbox url=”/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Tyra-Webb-Selfie.jpg” title=”Tyra Webb” align=”left”]
[/image_lightbox]This summer, I’m gaining an experience that I know will not only help me succeed after high school but will also provide me with perspective that I’ll bring back to my classes in September. I’m an intern in the office of the Detroit Public Schools Foundation.
This upcoming school year, I am going to be a senior at Cass Tech and I am very active in the school. I’m a cheerleader, a tennis player, a member of the senior executive board and a participant in the after school S.A.F.E.T.Y. Program (which gave me the opportunity to become an intern here).
When I graduate from high school, I would like to continue my journey to achieve a career in accounting. I find that the past business and accounting classes I have taken were very interesting, even though they required a lot of work. Eventually hard work pays off. My first choice for college is Howard University in Washington, D.C. Otherwise; there are a few schools in Michigan that interest me.
Interning at the Foundation this summer is giving me insight on how much work is required to be successful as a professional and what it’s like to be in the workforce. I’ve noticed being in the workforce is similar to being in school. To do well, you have to be good at managing your work and executing it.
I was not really aware of the Foundation’s work before my internship. I think more students should know about what the Foundation is doing behind the scenes. If they did, they probably wouldn’t feel like DPS cuts them short. They won’t feel like there’s nobody in their corner helping them out to succeed in life.
I have learned how the Foundation supports programs for DPS students in all grades. I have enjoyed seeing how the staff tries to really help early childhood education along with “STEM” (science, technology, engineering and math) and fine and performing arts programs. They give grants to programs that benefit DPS students the most.
When I get back to school, I’m going to tell my peers that the DPS Foundation is trying to help us out and how they are trying to work with alumni to get new programs going. They are planning different events and going to many others to raise more money for us.
I also want alumni to know that it’s important to support activities and programs to make sure students stay busy and out of trouble. Many Detroit students really want to do well. During the school year, many of them even try to complete their work at lunch in the lunchroom or the media center. They do that for one of two reasons: 1) they can concentrate a little bit better at school than the environment at home or 2) so they can get extra help on the assignment from either the teacher or a peer. Simply, students want the opportunity to do better. That’s why the community should support the schools.