Program coordinator Tyce Mister said the students started their internship under the Cooperative Education and Training Program in February.
“All the students went to be interviewed during the Career Fair in September last year, while some of them applied for the jobs with the various agencies and businesses,” Mister said.
The program, sometimes referred to as the “co-op,” is designed to help prepare students for the job market.
Mister said the program teaches students to create their own résumés and applications and how to prepare for job interviews.
The students also get work experience as trainees in different business organizations and agencies.
Among the interns were Jesse Savellano and Jerome Ocampo who wrote for the Marianas Variety’s MV Teen page.
Ocampo and Savellano said they learned a lot in such a short time.
“I learned to be more responsible both in work and in school,” Ocampo said.
Savellano saidhe got a taste of the pressures faced by reporters, described as a valuable experience.
Both students plan to pursue journalism but they will be studying at Northern Marianas College for a year or two before going to the states.
For Audrey Ogo, working as a student teacher at San Vicente Elementary School gave her the experience she needed for a career in teaching.
“I love the work and I’m going to study teaching atNMC,” Ogo said.
Marielle Sinquenco spent her internship at Pacific Airport Services.
“I was all around and tried all the work there, from customer service and everything,” Sinquenco said.
Pacific Airport Services is the ground handling service provider forDelta and Asiana Airlines.
Sinquenco is still trying to choose between tourism or business management at NMC.
Jay Torres worked at the Athlete’s Foot.
He said he learned how to be more responsible and to be on time.
“I’m still thinking about what course to take. I may take up criminal justice at NMC and will go to another school later,” Torres said.
Mister said the Career Fair for the first semester is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 21, 2010.
