The Summer RISE Program offers the opportunity of real-world job experience to rising underclassmen during summer break. This career-based learning opportunity is subsidized partially by local government bodies, and receives additional donations from other non-profit organizations and independent businesses in the county. The program, which lasts 60 hours in total, is divided into 20-hour workweeks.
Sophomore Pranav Ramesh’s mom helped to fill out the online application. “It was pretty comprehensive with a range of questions,” Ramesh said.
He does not regret his mom’s insistence. Ramesh is interested “finance and stuff,” and hopes to “gain a quality experience and to do something productive over summer,” Ramesh said. He applied to work in the Rockville location.
Some applicants are less decided on their career path. “My hope is that I can gain experience in the field so I can narrow it down between STEM and humanities,” sophomore Nastaran Moghimi said.
Specifically, Moghimi is deciding between government, law and medical services. She said, “That’s not a problem most people have… I have to decide [between so many ventures].”
Although Moghimi’s mom was initially the one who told her to apply, Moghimi does not regret the decision, and hopes to acquire real-world experience that will help ease her dilemma. Moghimi is leaning toward medical practice, but wonders if this 60-hour, infield program will change her mind. “With law, you can’t make everyone happy, but with medicine, you can save an innocent life, not at the expense of others, so everyone’s happy,” Moghimi said.
Junior Snehal Tamot, like Ramesh, has applied for the Rockville location of the program. “I’m interested in engineering, but also there’s a $300 step-in,” Tamot said.
Although he applied to the RISE program in an effort to “further improve his mathematical abilities,” Tamot said he is also doing it “for the money.”
The reimbursement is offered at the end of the program, but it would average to $20 per hour, dispersed between three 20-hour work weeks. This what Tamot said enticed him. The $300 award for completing the program is meant to cover expenses such as food, clothing, transportation and office supplies.
The program aims to help students decide between career ventures by offering the guidance of adult professionals in the fields they are considering. The exchange benefits both parties as students get the opportunity to acquire applicable experience, and local businesses and organizations can see a portion of the MCPS student body. Applicants are currently awaiting responses.
