School-to Work, Is it Good or Bad?

Ann-Marie Minaya: This summer I worked at Davis Polk & Wardwell. Ms. Arace the legal studies advisor, sent me along with another student from Murry Bergtraum to interview with Mary Ann Koehler who is in charge of the summer recruits at DPW. Davis Polk & Wardwell is a huge international law firm. They have offices in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Washington D.C. . When I first went there it was intimidating because the building is huge and everyone looked so professional. I wondered if I was properly dressed. But then I reassured myself, I was dressed in a suit what was I worrying about? During the interview it seemed as if I already received the job of course I used proper interview manners and I brought along my resume but I didn't really need it. I got the job almost right away. Ms. Koehler was really nice, very friendly and told me if I needed anything or had any questions during the course of the job that to call her. She said that I could start working June 29 if that was possible, it was fine with me. So she said see you at 9:30 am on the 29th. I got the job. On the first day of work. I had to fill out some forms and then I was told what for. I was going to be working for Summer Benefits/Payroll. There I met everyone who was working and I met my fellow peers Julie and Anthony. they assigned a lady named Francis to help us and teach us how to things and to show us around. The first day we filed documents away and we learned our way around. the good thing was that we all got along perfectly. Sometimes there be no work because we would work so fast, and I would end up in the neighboring accounting department. I worked and learned many computer skills especially with Excel. I used to make the charts for presentations that my boss Ms. Gratta would make presentations to other people. I also learned more clerical skills. Like answering phones , I hate answering the telephone. I barely answer the phone in my house correctly, so I had to get used to saying "Benefits/ Payroll how may I help you? " but it was a nice experience, I' m hoping to work there again this summer. I think that if everyone gets along in the workplace, they are happy thus, more efficient.

Amina Alliyu: Going to school and work wasn’t easy but it was something I had to do. In September I applied for the Chase Internship. It was a competitive program that was only given to 26 students. It was to my pleasure that I was one of the 26. The program started in October and ended in December, so it wasn’t that long. Everyday after school I went to work at Chase for 3 hours, usually form 2-5pm. It was a long three hours that went by slowly. After that I had to go home during the rush hour. This was the most hectic for me. The platforms were crowded as well as the trains. Sometimes I had to wait 15-20 minutes just to get on the train and that was no fun. By then I would get home between 6-7pm because I live so far out. By then I was tired but I couldn’t go to sleep without doing my homework. That only took me another hour or two to do. Then I had to iron my clothes and get ready for the next day. By the time I went to bed it would be 11’o clock.  I use to be tired trying to manage school and work at the same time but in the end it all paid off. Good things come in hard times so I just had to stay focused and use wisdom. I had to get good grades and go to work altogether. I survived this period of my life, and I wouldn’t had change it for the world.

 Starr Butler: I HAVE BEEN WORKING SINCE I ENTERED MURRY BERGTRAUM HIGH SCHOOL. WHEN I WAS A SOPHMORE I WORKED IN A MUSIC STORE, IN YONKERS, ON WEEKENDS SO THAT DID NOT DIRECTLY AFFECT MY SCHOOL WORK. I WAS ABLE TO DO MY WORK DURING THE WEEK AND FREELY WORK ON THE WEEKENDS. EVENTUALLY I QUIT THAT JOB AND I BEGAN WORKING IN MANHATTAN AT A CRUMMY STORE ON 34TH. STREET. WHEN I BEGAN THIS JOB I WORKED ABOUT FOUR DAYS A WEEK. IT BEGAN INTERFERING WITH MY SCHOOL WORK. I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE TIME TO DO MY WORK DURING SCHOOL HOURS. SO EVERY LUNCH HOUR I WAS IN THE LIBRARY DOING MY HOMEWORK. IT WASN'T A GREAT IDEA BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET MY WORK DONE WHILE I INCREASED MY GRADE POINT AVERAGE. AT THE END OF LAST YEAR I WAS OFFERED A SUMMER INTERNSHIP, AT A LAW FIRM, THROUGH ONE OF THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS I HAD PARTICIPATED IN DURING MY JUNIOR YEAR. I WORKED THAT SUMMER WHILE ATTENDING SUMMER NIGHT SCHOOL AT PARK WEST, TO ADVANCE. I TOOK THESE CLASSES SO THAT I COULD HAVE A SHORTER PROGRAM DURING MY SENIOR YEAR. I ENJOYED THIS JOB VERY MUCH AND I LIKE THE EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES. THEY MUST OF LIKED ME TO BECAUSE THEY ASKED ME TO WORK THERE DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AS A RECEPTIONIST. I TOOK OFF TWO WEEKS TO PREPARE FOR SCHOOL AND THEN I RETURNED TO WORK.

Debbie Lee: School to work program is a great opportunity to work and go to school at the same time.  Mostly it is good to work during your senior year.  On your freshmen and somphore year, you would need to work hard to get your grades up.  It is better to work during your senior year because most of the seniors have fewer periods.  While you are working, you are earning money for college and you are begin more responsible.  I worked during my senior year at Chase.  It was an internship that I had from school.  Now I am working at a Law Firm.  It would be less pressure because I have only a few classes each day.  I don't need to worry that much about  homework or my study because two classes are easy to catch up on.  So it would be better off to work during your senior year. 

Valina Rudolph:  The summer before my junior year I worked at New York Downtown Hospital.  This was a very good learning experience for me, because I actually got to see how people cooperate together harmoneously in a work place.  I also learned how to work well with people and how to complete my asignments on time.  This job helped me to get a reliable reference for the future.  I was also able to improve my skills such as typing, filing, and answering phones.  In Feburary of  my Junior year I begain to work as an information specialist at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.  My duties at this job included giving tours, giving directions and information about the museum and the whole NYC area, clerical duties, and working with young school groups.  I enjoyed this job and I still go back and vollunter at the Museum.   I was able to recieve both of these jobs through a program called VIP.  Ms Miller in the co-op office on the second floor introduced me to this program.  I recomend that you ask her for information on this program and she will tell you what you need to do to qualify.
  •Every job that the VIP program has available is located in Mannhattan.

Stephanie Bracero: The school-to-work program was a very diffuclt one for me, along with some of my peers.  Although if you work with the school's coop program, you can go to school one week, and the next week come to school. This seemed to be a better program for some of my friends because it didn't cut in with school time, my other friends always complain about how this is effecting there school work.  I, on the other hand, just babysat on weekends, and got the little bit of money I could get, it helped, but it didn't.  I believe that if you decide to work, while going to school join this program, because it is alot better time wise, money wise, and job experience wise.  Coop provides a job that will pay you at least $7.00/hr, you come to school one week, and work the other, you can't ask for any less of school.  This also leaves you with good job experience that you can later add to your resume. All along, if I had to do it all over again, I would join this program, and save my self time, to do other things, and still have plenty of money.  But if you really don't need the money, just focus on school, and just save your self the stress that most of you will have as a senior.

Karla Lopez: I feel as if work and school experiences are important.  I did two internships for Chase Manhattan Bank.  It taught me a lot and I encourage all students to do it.  You have to be smart about it.  If you see that it is interfering with school a lot and is bringing you're grades down you must stop.  School should always come first.  There's no rush to work remember you will e working for the rest of you're life.  An education is the most important thing. Working  does alot for you. It gives you the experience that you don't aquire from school.  In schoo you learn alot put you really don't put it into effect as you do in a job.  Plus working enhances you're knowledge and exoerience.  You then have many things to include in you're resume that help you when you're going for any other job.

Johanna Rodriguez: The Tech Prep program working together with F.I.T. helps you to make up your own resume and they eventually work you up to a practice job interview. On that interview The Tech Prep Advisor Ms. Rebecca Karpus  will let you know the pros and your cons on a job interview. She also guarantees a summer job and on how well you was some employers even recommend you staying with them. One bad thing about working while in school is the extra stress and pressure on your shoulders. It's not easy handling a job and going to school at the same time. One advice that I will give from experience is this! If you feel like your job is interfering with your schoolwork quit your job while you still can, because senior year is no joke and there is no room for screw-ups.

Linda Wong:  I think it's great to have work experience while you're in school.  I interned at Chase during my senior of in Murry Bergtraum.  It was great to earn extra money to use, since senior year is very expensive.  It is also wonderful because you can add work experience on to your resume. When you're out in the business world you'll realize that having job experience is very important to your interviewer or the person reading your resume.