Met West High School: Internship Based Education

Positive Images has mentored students from Met West High School in Oakland since 2005. As a matter of fact, our very first Met West Intern, LaStarr Moore, will graduate from Sacramento State this semester. We are very proud of her and in her debt for bringing the Met West program to our attention.

This year we were able to participate in their Internship Fair which allowed me to interview numerous students during a 3 hour event. It was a unique way to meet students in a very unique learning environment. Students arrived in small groups at staggered times and then had opportunity to meet with the various businesses and organizations who had sent representatives to the Internship Fair.

I really enjoyed talking to the students and getting a glimpse at their personalities and interest. There was a full range. Some students had a clear direction and were passionate about a career path. A memorable example was a freshman boy who is committed to finding an internship that relates to dance. I suggested that he may have to get creative and create that position since it was an unusual fit. In true Met West fashion, he had already identified several organizations and businesses that he planned to approach. While Positive Images was clearly not a match for him, some lucky mentor is going to have a bright and energetic star added to their staff.

Other students, were completely open to all possible internships, excited about the process of exploring all their options. Many seemed overwhelmed with the daunting task of narrowing all their interest down to just one selection. And as with any school scenario...a few looked bored to tears.

As to the Positive Images Intern search, I met two very promising young women whom seemed genuinely interested in working at the studio. I was very impressed that each of them had emailed their director to request a Shadow Day at the studio, before I even left campus. I'm looking forward to getting to spending time with each of them and learning more about their goals. Being a mentor is very rewarding, and I feel honored to have had such amazing young people enter my life over the years.

To learn more about the Met West approach to education, check out their website. www.metwesths.org Perhaps this will be a good match for the needs of your student, or maybe YOU will be Met West's newest mentor!