Students from EOC’s School of Unlimited Learning (SOUL) Charter High School are rolling up their sleeves this spring and experiencing, first hand, the day-to-day activities of a lawyer, nurse, social worker, IT technician, and human resources specialist.

Nineteen students from SOUL’s Careers and Leadership class have been placed in various internships throughout Fresno County, including an assisted living facility, law firm, and EOC’s Transit Systems and Executive Plaza offices. “This internship will give me a lot of information about the career field that I want to pursue and how to excel in it,” says 17-year-old Sabrina*.

This class started last year but was only offered for one semester. This academic year, students were able to register for the class during the fall and spring semesters. Students learn career and job readiness skills, including career assessment and exploration, assistance in correctly filling out a job application, resume development, and mock interviews; learn how to improve their English and math skills; and attend a leadership-related field trip or have a guest speaker, such as a member of the Fresno Fire Department, nurse, banker, and representative from local technical colleges, speak to them on a weekly basis.

“My experience in this class was a great one,” adds Sabrina. “ I recommend any junior or senior to take this class … you will learn a lot!”

The Careers and Leadership class is made possible by the 2008 Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit Program, a cash grant program aimed at improving economic diversity and workforce knowledge and skills.

*Minor’s name has been changed to protect their identity