Wake up
Eat breakfast
Get ready for school
Go to school-7:45 a.m. -2:30 p.m.
This is the daily schedule of a typical high school student. However, when students have an abbreviated/internship schedule, they attend morning classes and work in the afternoon. Students can have periods 1-6 and then leave the building around 12:50 p.m., or have a travel schedule, attending periods 1-4 in the morning, leaving them with more time to work or attend internships.
Senior Niki Naderi is one such student. Naderi’s day starts with waking up at 6 a.m. and getting to school by 7:30. Naderi is currently taking four classes. “My first period I have Honors Modern US History with Ms.Hopkins. My experience with her so far has been great. She is very kind and understanding and I get a ‘big sister’ feeling from her. My second period I have Honors English 12 with Ms. Evans. She is a very nice lady and I had her last year for creative writing. My third period is Honors Statistics with Ms. George. She is a very flexible teacher and I had her last semester as well. My fourth period is Honors Physics with Ms. Huang. After fourth period I head downstairs and sign out in the internship room. I leave school and sometimes I go to Fallsgrove and grab some lunch,” Naderi said.
On Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays Naderi has an internship at Holy Cross Hospital in Germantown. “On Mondays and Friday, I have a shift from 12-4 p.m. so I go immediately after fourth period. On Thursdays, my shift starts from 4-8 p.m. so I have time to spare. The rest of my day is used for homework and other stuff I have to get done,” Naderi said.
Not only does Naderi have four classes to attend each school morning, but a full internship schedule to handle as well. It looks something like this: “Mondays I work in the ICU surgical department at an information desk. I help visitors go to their patient’s room or help out grieving families. I comfort them and assist them to the best of my ability. I also try to keep the department clean. On Thursdays, I work on the women and infant services. One side of the department being labor and delivery for women giving birth and the other side being mother and baby. I make security bags for babies and assist in the NICU. On Fridays, I work in Acute 4 where I talk to patients and comfort them, especially those who don’t have any family. I also stock closets and assist any nurses,” Naderi said.
Even with four academically challenging classes, Naderi is still able to thrive in her internship and help others. Abbreviated schedules are a way for students to expand their knowledge on branches they are passionate about.
