Life After Work Study | How a Cristo Rey Intern is Making the Move After Graduation
by Brenden Nickels
Brenden is senior office assistant at Kraus-Anderson’s Twin Cities office.
Since 2013, Kraus-Anderson has partnered with Cristo Rey Jesuit High School and its Corporate Study Work Program in providing internships for its students. We have a different intern for each Monday through Thursday when there’s school, and the four of them rotate on Fridays. The interns do basic office work at KA, such as process mail, make deliveries, and clean out our coffee pots. They also work with one of our departments (marketing, IT, HR, project coordinators) in the morning.
Valuable Work Experience
One advantage that this partnership provides is that it gives the intern work experience that they can take with them when they graduate. Our 12th grade intern, Tania Vanegas, has been with KA for the past two school years and one summer session. She has applied to 13 different colleges and has chosen to attend the nursing program at the College of St. Catherine.
“I think that here I learned to manage my time and become more mature.” Vanegas said on her time as an intern at Kraus-Anderson.
College is the Goal for Cristo Rey Students
Unlike at public schools, Cristo Rey takes the acceptance of its students to colleges as a very big deal. When students begin their time at Cristo Rey, they start making their college plans right away. The school offers tours of campuses, preparation and times to take the ACT test, as well as assistance to complete the FAFSA (in fact, they advise that families apply for it).
“The effectiveness of this program is apparent.” says Cristo Rey on their website. “Many of our students are the first in their families to attend college and do not have a frame of reference for what life in college is like. Our students arrive on college campuses prepared academically but require additional support to make connections and stay focused. Visits to college campuses, assistance with the financial aid process and solid relationships between Cristo Rey and key colleges and universities help to make this transition easier.”
Career Prep
Another advantage that Vanegas has with her internship here at KA is that she has also had the opportunity to prepare for her future career. She has been getting a resume and a Linkedin profile set up, as well as taking part in practice interviews to help build her interview skills. Vanegas has said that these have been helpful to her.
“I believe Tania has learned a lot during her time here,” said Kraus-Anderson Office Manager Lori Charlesworth. “She has established good relationships with several of us and has learned work and life skills that will carry through regardless of which career path she chooses. Our intern programs impact the members of our community in a meaningful way.”
Cristo Rey Acceptance Kiva
Every now and then, Cristo Rey holds a special assembly or “kiva” as they call it, celebrating all of its seniors that will be going to the college of their choice. At Vanegas’ acceptance ceremony, the school honored 20 seniors, and Vanegas was the one with the most colleges accepting her.
Vanegas says of her big change, “I’m very nervous for the transition but very excited to start.”
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