Hands on experience for high school students
The Cornerstone Program at Dripping Springs High School provides students with the opportunity to gain real world experience in an area of interest or potential career path, all outside of the classroom through the use of internships.
This program provides students with a chance to gain a hands-on perspective in specific careers or majors they may wish to pursue in the future. Having this perspective has aided many students in figuring out what major or career path they would like to pursue after high school. Whether it be through the development of a positive opinion of a potential career—or even determining a vocation is not a good fit—this experience helps students on their journey to find their calling.
“Ideally, our goal would be for every senior to have some sort of work-based learning experience to solidify, or enlighten, the student about the direction they are choosing after high school,” Cindy Reynolds, the Cornerstone Coordinator, said. “Cornerstone currently enables approximately 25% of senior to have this experience, either through an internship or independent study. This is something that I am extremely proud of.”
Former Principal Joe Burns and Mrs. Reynolds put the idea of the Cornerstone Program into action in 2014 by placing three high school seniors in an internship position at Pioneer Bank to gain entrepreneurial business experience. This was just the start to the immense success this program has achieved since.
“We really wanted to design a program that allowed students to explore a career interest or simply just an interest they have in a unique and very relevant environment,” said Burns. “I have always felt that DSHS does a great job preparing students for future education, but could do more to help students discover what they might want to do with their lives.”
Word began to spread to the community about the program, and many companies and establishments reached out to the school to express their interest in acquiring student interns. Word also began to spread among the students, and the following year students were eager to join the Cornerstone Program and began to be placed at all different types of internship positions. Since that original placement of three students four years ago, there are now more than 100 students placed at internships all across Dripping Springs, and in Lakeway and Austin. Companies and organizations of all types are involved in the program. From long-time partners like Kethley Physical Therapy, L2 Aviation, and West Side Veterinary Clinic, to new partners like the Century News, Austin Fit Body, Starrs on Mercer, and River City Orthopedics, students have many potential options. Despite the massive levels of success this program has achieved, Mrs. Reynolds has not slowed down in finding new businesses and internship opportunities for students.
A key element of the success of Cornerstone is that the internship benefits both the high school students and the businesses where they are placed. These interns benefit the businesses by providing them with extra hands and eager minds in their establishments. While working with businesses provides students with knowledge and experience, these interns also provide a fresh perspective representing the opinions and input of a younger demographic. Teenage students also can help companies with skills in social media, knowledge of current events, and broadening their horizons and community impact.
Students are encouraged to give feedback to Mrs. Reynolds about their internships. If a certain internship placement or career field doesn’t seem to be working out for a student, he is encouraged to express this to Mrs. Reynolds so that an alternate placement can be found.
Former DSISD Superintendent Dr. Bruce Gearing used to say that one of the best features of the program was not merely reinforcement of interest for the student, but also the discover that perhaps a career field was not a true fit. “If the student discovers that a career path is really not for them, then that’s also a good thing. It saves the parents a lot tuition,” Dr. Gearing said. “Instead the student can change to another college major that might be a better fit.”
“It’s all about the student’s experience, it’s not about the vision that I, or anyone else, has for them,” said Mrs. Reynolds. “It’s really about what the students like, and if they’re enjoying it, or if they could change something, what would it be? Feedback from the student, as well as the placement, is critical to the process and provides the student with the ability to process criticism in a productive way"