What We Believe: An AHS internship is an opportunity to integrate school learning with worksite-based learning in the context of identifying and carrying out a “real world” project for the work site. We believe an internship offers the chance for all students, not just those with the strongest academic record, to develop values, knowledge and skills while adding an important dimension to the portfolio of their work at AHS. An internship asks much of AHS students: to be responsible in fulfilling their commitment, to show appropriate initiative, to work independently and/or collaboratively with a supervisor and other adults at a work site, to persevere in the face of challenges, to demonstrate their new-found learning at the worksite to the school community and, in doing so, to act as role models to their peers. An internship provides much to AHS students: the opportunity to participate in the professional life of the community, to develop an understanding of effective communication in an organizational culture, and to critically reflect on their own strengths, needs and interests. Via an internship students come to know a different side of themselves, including what they are capable of – an important insight when looking to the future. There is no direct line to draw between an AHS internship and a successful career trajectory, but we are convinced – and the data we track demonstrates – that an internship is a high-quality launch pad for motivated AHS students interested in serving their community while readying themselves for college and careers.