Education has gone through many changes since the public health emergency was declared at the start of 2020. It feels as though learning options are severely limited. However, when a door closes, a window opens, and Nokomis students are pushing open their own windows of opportunity with the help of local businesses and Nokomis’ ELO Coordinator. At a time when students are only physically in class half the time, students like Kiley Rackliff are exploring ways to take school beyond the four walls.
Over the years, Nokomis has been building partnerships within the community. More students have been interested in seeking internships as a way of exploring occupations and gaining work experience. Last spring, Hometown Health Center reached out to explore internship possibilities with students and hired their first Nokomis intern, Beau Briggs. Partnerships between local businesses and public schools are crucial in preparing students for life after high school while allowing students to complete meaningful work for local businesses and organizations. “We have always loved working with students. We are firm believers in educating our future and giving them real life experiences. We also have a lot of little projects that we don’t have time to do in our busy work lives, so we love having a student that is willing to do whatever is asked,” Penny Townsend says.
This summer Kiley Rackliff, a senior, was hired on for a paid internship. Her work began in the Newport office, but once the school year began, she started to work in the new school clinic right in the building. The student clinic has allowed Kiley to put in her internship hours without having to juggle travel time and other classes. The addition of the student clinic in Nokomis has not only created more learning opportunities, but it also connects the school with local business and allows for more accessible healthcare in the community. “We love working with Nokomis! The administration is so supportive and we have such a fantastic working relationship with all of the district School Nurses. We love seeing the students on a daily basis. It is also rewarding to help parents keep up with their children’s medical care without the hassle of missing work or transportation. It’s a serious obstacle for many families.”
The internship is giving Kiley a headstart on her career goal to become an occupational therapist, and she is learning what it is like to work in a healthcare environment. “You work with other people all the time, and a lot of it you’re communicating with each other. You’re also doing a lot of teamwork with colleagues.”
With the growing interest in healthcare occupations, and the increasing number of applicants for positions, Penny says that experience can help young adults to stand out. “The healthcare field is very competitive. So having on the job experience looks fantastic on a resume. And with healthcare, it’s very complex and ever changing – so the experience is invaluable.”
Not only has the internship helped Kiley experience what it is like to work in a healthcare occupation, but it has also helped her to understand the value of money. “Since having a job, I’m getting paid and I usually just go to get gas and I’m like, ‘Oh look, there goes some money.’ So, I learned I need to be more responsible with my money and that it is important.”
Although Kiley’s internship is currently on hold due to the rise in COVID testing, the three months she was able to work were full of benefits. “It will give me experience and knowledge in the medical field, it will prepare me for what to expect. And I think it will benefit me because I will have the experience in that field, and they will see that. It will open up more opportunities to me in the future. It’s a great opportunity for students who are interested in the medical field.”
“Students are our future – and teaching students what it is like in the real world is a skill they need beyond graduation. We feel it is just one more way to give back to our community that we work in,” Penny shares.
School is hard even during a “normal” year. With all of the current changes in what school looks like, it is a great time to rethink learning. Cara Flannery, the Nokomis Extended Learning Opportunities Coordinator, is exploring more possibilities to take learning beyond the classroom walls. Students, businesses, and community members who are interested in exploring ELOs can contact her by phone or email: cflannery@rsu19.org ; 207-368-4354 ext 2107