This summer, I got the chance to do something really special—a three-week internship with the Student Think Tank and the Student Assembly/Council at my school district’s office. At first, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it ended up being one of the best things I’ve done so far in high school. I learned a lot, made some amazing new friends, and got to be part of something that will make a difference in our schools.
The internship was focused on students working together to come up with ways to improve our school district. Every day, we met at the district office in room 144. Now that number will forever be imprinted in my memory. The big windows let the sunlight stream into the room. We would try to be the first ones to get a seat on the blue couch centered under the main windows. We worked on projects such as marketing for PUSD, or planning a second student conference in which students from all over the district get to communicate with adults about the struggles that we face in our generation. We talked a lot about things we’d like to see change or improve in our schools. I liked how it wasn’t just about planning, but we also dove into our mental health and checked in on one another consistently.
One of the main things I worked on was helping plan the student assembly elections that will take place in fall 2025. I helped figure out the timeline for the elections, designed posters, and talked with other students about how we can get more people involved. It felt exciting to help build something that future students will be part of, even after the internship is over.
But the best part of the internship wasn’t just the projects—it was the people. I met students from other schools in the district, and we quickly became close. It was nice being around people who also cared about school and wanted to make things better. We had fun, laughed a lot, and supported each other throughout the whole thing. By the end, it honestly felt like we’d known each other way longer than just three weeks.
This experience helped me grow in a lot of ways. I got better at working in a team, speaking up, and sharing my ideas. I also started thinking more about how schools are run and how students can have bigger roles in shaping our education. Before our internship – even though I had been involved in the STT for six months – , I never really thought I could be someone who helps make change happen. Now, I believe I can.
I’m thankful I got to be part of the Student Think Tank. It showed me that students have voices that matter and that when we work together, we can make a real impact. I’m excited to see how our ideas play out this year, and I would love to stay involved in my next three years of high school.
