MCPL is proud to be one of 140 local organizations hosting student interns this summer as part of WorkSource Montgomery and Montgomery County Public Schools' (MCPS) Summer R.I.S.E. (Real Interesting Summer Experience) initiative.
The initiative pairs rising MCPS juniors and seniors with local businesses and government organizations, or “hosts,” for a 3-week period (July 9-27). Host organizations bring students into their workplaces and provide them with enriching, hands-on, real-world career experiences, offering students the opportunity to gain exposure to a variety of career options.
MCPL’s branches and central administrative offices hosted a total of 39 interns this summer. Below, Kendi Aaron and DT, two rising seniors, assigned to MCPL’s central administrative offices, share their impressions as the program winds to a close.
Kendi Aaron
This summer I got to spend three weeks at the Montgomery County Public Libraries in the central administrative offices. It has been eye opening. After learning about the many free opportunities that MCPL offers, I realized I haven’t even touched the surface of the many benefits of living in Montgomery County. With going off to college next year, potentially in a different state, I want to take advantage of as much as I can before I leave.
The administration here has been nothing but welcoming. They have made my time here both educational and comfortable. Being here has allowed me to see the hard work that goes behind keeping the library branches running as smoothly as possible. I have learned about graphic design, programming, outreach, and so much more. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit in on a job search strategies workshop where you learn how to make connections and how to get opportunities in the field of your interest.
Even though this isn’t my future career path, I can appreciate the thought and effort put into making sure that every Montgomery County resident has access to as many opportunities as possible. If you speak a different language or are hearing impaired, they will hire someone, for free, to make sure that you can understand whatever program or event MCPL is hosting. The fact is, they have programs available for every walk of life, From multiple language programs to job search workshops to SAT/ACT prep, you will find something that caters to you. And it's all free. I have actually started to use the Mango app to learn Japanese. Without my MCPL card, I would have to pay a monthly fee just to expand my knowledge of different languages.
I have already started sharing these initiatives with my friends and family because they were, sadly, as oblivious to the different opportunities as I was. In the future, if there is something that I am interested in, the first place I will look to for help is MCPL.
DT
The Rockville Memorial Library is in the Rockville Town Center, where you can grab something to eat and afterward come to the library where it is quiet and comfortable. I can tell you from experience that the library is huge! There are two floors with loads of space to sit down and read a book or relax, put on headphones, and watch a video on your phone. It's also important to note that there are more study rooms on the second floor for people who need quiet time to study.
As an intern at MCPL’s administrative offices in Rockville, I have completed two weeks of work here. I have met the friendly and helpful staff. As I was working, my host introduced me to the MCPL website. The site was very organized. As I explored through clicking on various tabs and the search bar I came across mountains of resources. One of them was the “For You” tab that provides you with programs to get involved in for your age group. Then there’s the research tab that lists out many subjects with journal or articles on the subject you are looking for. Finally, there’s the “Books, Movies and Music” tab that gives you info on which book or movie you're looking for with useful hints. It includes e-books and e-magazines for individuals who can’t access a computer or don’t have the time to go to the library. Furthermore, there are resources for people who want to learn a new language or for someone like me who just learned French and needs that extra practice to get through school.
As Malcolm X once said, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare today.” It is right to say if you don’t prepare now, how will you face the challenges ahead of you. Education is what we should receive to succeed. There are many people who haven't fully completed their education. This is something that is happening globally as well as in Montgomery County. There are programs however for these situations. One is Career Online High School, a free resource for people who dropped out of high school and now need to complete their high school education. There are actual accounts of adults who have successfully finished their high school education through MCPL’s Career Online High School, continuing onto Montgomery College and University of Maryland Baltimore County. They have gone further in life than when they didn’t earn their degree.
The Rockville Memorial Library has an extensive number of programs just like the ones discussed above. These programs range from language programs such as Mango Languages and Rosetta Stone to permit practice tests like Drivingtest.org and online books from Safari Books Online. There are resources for all ages including young children. MCPL lets you access the programs and resources for free. This information and more are available online at the MCPL website for the public to see and to use freely.
Labels: Programs and Events, Workforce Development
