The Class of ’85 is a proud sponsor of Dartmouth Partners in Community Service. Through our contributions to Class Projects our class is one of many sponsoring classes that provide funding to Dartmouth students pursuing social impact internships through a selection process managed by the Center for Service. A highlight for the students during their term off is their mentor relationship with a Dartmouth alum.
This summer Cecilia Torres ’18 interned at Youth Employment Summer (YES) Program in New York City. Her mentor was Ricki Stern ‘87. Read on for an interview with Cecilia about her experience.
The YES program pairs students in their junior or senior year of high school with a paid 6-week corporate summer internship. The program includes a four-day trip to Dartmouth in which the interns were exposed to college life. Students are seen here with Dartmouth intern, Cecilia Torres ’18.Spotlight on Cecilia Torres ‘18
The Youth Employment Summer (YES) Program – NYC, New York
Mentor: Ricki Stern ‘87
The YES program pairs students in their junior or senior year of high school with a paid 6-week corporate summer internship. Cecilia had her hands full this summer making lesson plans, managing the program budget, and creating newsletters, as well as planning a four-day trip to Dartmouth in which the interns were exposed to college life. From her check-in at the halfway point of her internship, Cecilia seemed to be making the most of both her internship and her time with her mentor.
Q: What has been the best part of your internship thus far?
CT: I’d say the best part of my internship thus far has been witnessing the amount of drive and passion that these young people have. I am learning from them as much as they are learning from me.
Q: What has been the most challenging?
CT: Facilitating activities and lesson plans with a group of 14 teenagers with diverse personalities and quirks has been very challenging. Not being much older than them I have had to manage the boundary between friendliness and professionalism very carefully.
Q: Tell us about your mentor.
CT: My mentor is Ricki Stern. I had a dinner with her, Michael Stern and 3 recent Dartmouth graduates not too long ago. I am interested in pursuing a career in film, specifically production and Ricki has been amazing at exposing me to the world of documentary film and the possibilities of working in that industry.
