Beyond the Classroom: Mia Lichtenstein – Intern Interview

Finding real-world work experience while still in high school can often feel like an uphill battle. While many students are eager to explore career paths and test their interests before college, finding opportunities tailored specifically to high schoolers is rare.

That was exactly the position Mia Lichtenstein, a rising senior at Portola High School in Irvine, California, found herself in. Between competing on her school’s tennis team, reporting for the campus news program, and actively participating in ASB, Mia wanted to step into the professional world to gain real clarity before college applications began.

Her search led her directly to Vital Link and an internship experience that proved to be truly transformative.

Stepping Into Professionalism: The Power of Preparation

Mia’s journey with Vital Link started through its internship workshop program. Designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world workplace requirements, the workshops equipped Mia with essential skills that aren’t always taught in traditional school settings:

• Professional Communication & Self-Presentation: Learning how to represent oneself with confidence in a professional setting.
• Time Management & Organization: Balancing school, extracurricular activities, and workplace tasks.
• Collaboration & Team Dynamics: Working effectively across teams in a structured environment.
• Workplace Expectations: Understanding business etiquette and nonprofit dynamics.

“What stood out to me was that Vital Link offered a wide variety of internship opportunities to high school students, which is rare to find. The internship workshops were informative and engaging… It was especially rewarding to take those skills and apply them in my internship.”

Combining Strategy & Creativity in Business & Marketing

When selecting her department focus, Mia gravitated toward Business and Marketing. She wanted to understand how businesses operate from the ground up and how strategic storytelling connects with people.

During her internship, Mia attended strategy meetings, learned the mechanics of running a successful nonprofit organization, and actively participated in marketing efforts for Vital Link events across Orange County.

“I especially enjoyed going to summer workshops and seeing students from elementary school to college get excited about their future careers after speaking with a mentor or listening to a presentation. It was inspiring to see how much work Vital Link puts into creating opportunities for students.”

Gaining Confidence for the Next Chapter

For Mia, this was a foundational milestone. Navigating her first professional environment helped her grow into a more confident communicator, better understand workplace dynamics, and appreciate the dedication required to run an impactful organization.

“This was my first experience in a professional environment, and it helped me become more confident in my communication, better understand workplace dynamics, and learn more about what it takes to run a business.”

Mia’s Advice for Fellow Students

As she enters her senior year at Portola High, Mia strongly advocates for expanding career exploration opportunities for young people across Southern California and beyond.

“I believe more organizations should offer opportunities like this because many students are eager to explore career paths and gain experience but don’t know where to start. I would definitely recommend Vital Link to other students because it provides valuable real-world experience, exposes students to a variety of career paths, and helps build professional skills that can’t always be taught at school.”

Ready to Launch Your Professional Journey?

Are you a high school student looking to gain real-world experience, build your network, and test out potential careers? Or an organization looking to mentor the next generation of leaders?

Explore Vital Link’s Internship Programs

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