Summer Internship Experiences
Over the course of two months, the Career Development Office sent out 75 rising juniors and seniors into our community to experience meaningful and practical work related to a student’s field of career interest. Whether students were placed in one-day externships or short-term opportunities, every young man who had the opportunity to participate was given a chance to explore and receive a taste of what a profession looks like outside the classroom.
Prior to interning, these students took part in our first “Gentlemen Ignatian Series” at the end of the academic year, where they were given guidelines and tips on how to be a gentleman in a professional working environment. They not only developed those skills on campus before heading into the real world, but they were able to execute them effortlessly. As a result, while interning, students developed self-confidence, learned decision-making, enhanced their skill sets, and some even began to understand corporate ethics.
Students interned throughout 20 different locations across Miami-Dade County this summer. Some had an opportunity to intern with law firms, while others interned in business corporate offices, engineering and architectural firms, financial investment companies, rehabilitation centers, software development companies, and medical practices, to name a few. Nonetheless, no matter where these students were assigned, there was always an alumnus or parent of Belen waiting to host them.
“This immersive experience in the medical field gave me invaluable insight into the day-to-day operations of endocrinology and the importance of proper patient care,” stated Joaquin Mestre ‘24, who interned with Belen parent Dr. Alex Manzano at Miami Diabetes and Endocrinology.
It goes without saying how the community of our school believes in the mission of the Career Development Office, which is to educate, support, and assist in the growth of high school students as they explore and further understand themselves in a variety of professional settings.
“I learned a lot about the ins and outs of an engineer’s job both at the office and on-site. I also got the opportunity to work with multiple engineers and get their perspectives on the job. The best part was interning under an alumnus. Mr. Castro was able to provide relatable and personal insight to my experience with the firm,” said Lucas Jimenez ‘23 who interned at Hazen and Sawyer, an engineering consulting firm, with Orlando Castro ‘01.
If you would like to host a student or a group of students for an internship/externship experience, contact me via email at cbasso@belenjesuit.org. For all current sophomores and juniors, you will receive more information about our summer internship program via email in the spring.
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: communications@belenjesuit.org
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: communications@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba, by Queen Isabel II of Spain. The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline. In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the school's property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit is situated on a 34-acre site in western Dade County, just minutes away from downtown Miami.