Desiree, with fellow intern Andrew Goodwin, at the Chamber’s Reception area.
My name is Desiree Ray. I attend Frankford High School. In September 2008, I will be entering my senior year. I’m so excited about my last year of school. I want to go in with an even more positive and determined attitude, and thanks to my Work Ready summer internship experience, I think that’s exactly what’s going to happen.
I have been a WorkReady intern for two years now. Last year my internship took place at Educational Data Systems, Inc. This year it was with the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and I loved every minute of it. I felt so useful at my job. I know it’s an internship but believe it or not, I was treated like a regular employee. I was given an ID tag (smile) that meant a lot to me. Also I have my own desk, computer, and a company e-mail. Some of the tasks I do for the Chamber are research members and their status, scheduling of meetings, data entry, event planning, filing, invoices, and other little odd jobs around the office for people. I share a office with Ms. Arnette and Ms. Pat. They are so funny. I can’t stop laughing when I’m in the office with them.
It shouldn’t be a secret that WorkReady is doing a great job helping kids better themselves. I feel like I have the potential to do a lot of positive things and thanks to Work Ready I already have. They gave me the opportunity to meet the Mayor of Philadelphia and one thing’s for sure: it was on exciting experience that I will never forget. I was given the chance to meet the Mayor because of all the positive work I did with WorkReady and Philadelphia Youth Network in the past. They saw that I was a young adult who wanted something out of life and wanted to encourage me to continue doing positive things, so they gave me something I would call a chance of a lifetime, and I met the Mayor. When I met the mayor I was nervous, but not for the reason we were there. We were there to encourage the mayor to call businesses and ask them to offer more jobs for young high school students. I thought that him taking time out for us to say what we had to say was great and I respect him a lot more for that.
To learn more about the Chamber’s summer internship program, click here.
Dez, I just want to tell you and everyone else you are a joy to be around not one time did you ever think that any task was to small or to larger for you. Thank you for allowing me to make you laugh and to share this part of your ever grow life experiences with you. WorkReady is something I wish I had when I was growing up I know I would have done a few things different.