3 answers
Victoria’s Answer
I didn't know about City Year before I turned 25 otherwise would absolutely have done it -- I've worked with so many wonderful City Year members, alumn and staff over the years in my role as a social impact professional. Really amazing organization.
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Julie’s Answer
I can't speak to paid internships, however, your local museum, aquarium, zoo, nature center, etc. often do have youth volunteer programs! They do a great job to engage them in the education of other young people while developing your own skills for your next job/internship/opportunity.
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Anne-Marie’s Answer
Hi Mercedes,
It's awesome that you are looking for paid internships. They can be challenging to find, but paid opportunities are definitely out there, so don't lose hope. I come from a background where I didn't have an option to take unpaid internships. Throughout college, I've always been able to find either paid internships or programs that would pay me to work at a non-profit (the Bonner Scholar Program at Macalester College, specifically).
When I was 20, I held an 8 week full-time AmeriCorps/Vista position over the summer, and I was paid every two weeks. It was an incredible experience, and I learned a lot! AmeriCorps includes a few programs, and they generally require you to be 18+, but AmeriCorps State & National is 17+. On their webpage, you can search for positions and choose whether you are looking for full-time, part time, or summer. You can find more information here: https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/join-americorps.
I would also add briefly that I learned a lot about myself and developed leadership skills working at retails jobs when I was in high-school, so everything you do can be valuable if you look for the learning opportunities. I hope this helps! I believe in you!!!
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