MetWest High School students in East Oakland learn to navigate and conduct themselves in the business world by building relationships with mentors, advisors and peers. Based on the Big Picture Learning model, students choose what they study and find a business where they want to intern; seniors design a project that improves that business. Four times a year they report what they’ve learned to their tight-knit community. Everyone is encouraged to ask questions and offer feedback.

Greg Cluster, MetWest Learning through Internship coordinator and development director, explained that, while the original program emphasized an individualized curriculum for students, MetWest has added rigorous academic classes that relate to internships outside the classroom. Seniors often take classes across the street at Laney College, earning resume-building college credits.

Claudia Romero is preparing for college this fall to pursue a medical career. Just 17, she has accrued years of valuable experience. In her first year at MetWest, she worked as an office assistant filing, tracking attendance and making phone calls at La Escuelita Elementary School, which she attended as a child. The next year she worked at West Lake Middle School as a teacher’s assistant, grading papers and helping students. She formed and mentored a group designed to help 8th grade girls transition to high school by discussing challenges such as peer pressure, self esteem and relationships.  Claudia based the idea on Oasis For Girls, a San Francisco organization she attended that empowers and encourages girls and young women to be strong creative community leaders through mentoring.

Her internships reflected her growing confidence. As a junior, she worked at Highland Hospital in the adult immunology clinic as part of the health education team.  She scheduled appointments and communicated regularly with HIV patients regarding medication.

Now in her senior year, Claudia interns in the health clinic at Youth UpRising in East Oakland.  Youth UpRising is committed to developing Alameda County youth by helping transform traumatic or oppressive experiences into opportunities for personal growth and positive changes in the community.

The health clinic is operated and staffed by Children’s Hospital and Research Center in Oakland. It provides medical and mental health services to all members of Youth UpRising. Claudia takes patients’ blood pressure, weight and height measurements, enters the information in the computer and prepares the charts.  She also sits in on physician meetings.

She’s helping plan the school based health center in the Downtown Educational Complex for her senior project.  The center will also house Escuelita Elementary, Centro Infantil de la Raza, Cdc, Yuk Yau, and MetWest schools. Its home is on several parcels of  land owned by Oakland Unified School District in the Lake Merritt Channel Area of downtown Oakland.

Claudia created a survey for parents of children in these schools, asking what they want from the health center.  The answers will help the center plan what type of care they’ll offer.  It’s been through several revisions and she’s currently scheduling meetings with principals until everyone is satisfied. 

“It’s very important that the questions are as clear and precise as possible so they’re interpreted the same by everyone,” she explained.

Once it’s complete, answered and sent back, Claudia will analyze the data and report back to the planners.

Multiply this professional and analytical thinking by about 150 students and anyone can see the power contained in MetWest.

When Tele’jon Quinn was in ninth grade, he had the heady experience of taking a college freshman class at UC Berkeley. As an intern, he researched topics on American Cities for his mentor professor who used the material in his lectures.  Tele’jon did the same homework and took the same tests as college freshman. He went from a student with no idea what he wanted, to recognizing he wanted to develop his communication and leadership skills.
 
Now a sophomore, he interns at Roots International Academy, a middle school in East Oakland, as a PE coach.  He helps with lesson plans, teaching and administrative duties like taking attendance.  He’s still undecided but enthusiastic about a career in law or technology.  He’s proud to be a leader. He said that now when he sees a friend struggling with math, which he excels in, he stops and helps. 

“I didn’t do that before,” he said.

Looking for something positive to do on Friday?  Come out to MetWest High School and see Tele’jon and the following students’ presentations on their work experiences.

Friday, March 19
8:50 - 9:20:  Tele'jon (10th grade), coach intern at Roots International Middle School
9:30 - 10:00:  Terrae (12th grade),  intern at  Alliance for Climate Education, and her work leading MetWest's student Climate Action Team
10:10 - 10:40:  Olivia (12th grade), intern at  BAY-Peace (Better Alternatives for Youth), providing non military post high school options for Oakland's youth.
11:30 - 12:00:  Kiana (11th grade), intern at Bake Sale Betty's

MetWest High School is located at 314 East 10th St. in Oakland.

To learn more about MetWest Learning Through Internship program, email metwestgregc@gmail.com

Photo credits Michael Fox