Catholic high school students experience professions firsthand

Gaining firsthand experience in a career before committing time and money can offer valuable insight for students still weighing their futures. Through high school internship and mentorship programs, students can explore a range of fields while learning more about their own interests and strengths.

“There is so much to be learned through observing rather than in school textbooks,” said Katie Scucces, a senior at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Towson. “Definitely try as many things as possible. There are a lot of options here.”

Since 2006, NDP has offered sophomores, juniors and seniors opportunities to connect with professionals across fields such as business, law, finance, engineering, architecture and health care through its Women in Career Exploration Program (WIN).

“I’m really pleased how open the professional community is to hosting high school students,” said Amy Alfriend, coordinator of WIN at NDP. “It is nice to see so many people interested and enjoy having them.”

Dr. Elizabeth Donohoo was not a student at NDP when the Women in Career Exploration Program started. The 2003 alum, however, is an active supporter of the program and enjoys welcoming students to her medical practice, Maryland Pediatric Group, in Timonium.

“They have a lot of great questions,” Donohoo said, noting that students observe a typical day of meeting with patients and how she makes a prognosis. “They really get a feel for what I do.”

Her very first intern, she said, is now in medical school.

“It’s super exciting,” she said. “We’ve stayed in touch periodically and talked about her classes.”

She also talks with each intern about the “many different ways” people can work in the medical field outside of being a doctor.

“My biggest message,” she said, “is to choose whatever you would do for free. I think it is a nice bit of perspective.”

Mercy High School in Baltimore provides multiple pathways for career exploration, according to Eileen Phelps, the school’s director of signature programs. She estimates that about 30 students from each class of approximately 125 students partake in one of the many programs.

The four-year Women in Medicine program provides students hands-on experience and exposure to health care careers through visits to Mercy Hospital to see procedures and speak to doctors. Another partnership with MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital offers the three-year Sister Agnese Neumann Scholars program, where students learn skills such as CPR, Stop the Bleed and infection prevention while exploring specialties including nursing and public health.

Mercy also pairs students with professionals through a mentorship program aligned with their career interests. For example, Kaci Scherer, a Mercy senior, completed an internship with Catholic Review photographer Kevin J. Parks in 2025.

Students in mentorship programs said the experience helps broaden their skills and perspective. 

“It taught me how to be professional with people and how to talk,” Aubree Zabkowski, 18, a senior at NDP, said of her WIN experience. “It was a valuable experience. Enjoy experiences as they come.”

A three-time participant in WIN, Scucces shadowed professionals in law, physical therapy and engineering.

“By shadowing a judge and shadowing an engineer, I realized those were not for me,” Scucces said.

Observing a physical therapist working with patients of all ages and developing treatment plans proved especially impactful, she said. The experience led to multiple return visits to the same office throughout the school year. She plans to attend Sacred Heart University in Connecticut this fall, pursuing an accelerated dual bachelor’s-doctor of physical therapy degree.

Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore offers two internship programs to its students.

“There are lots of opportunities for guys to really take part in things that might be interesting in the future,” said Kenneth Pikin, Curley’s assistant principal of academics and faculty development.

For 15 years, scholars in Curley’s St. Bonaventure program have been required to complete a capstone project during their senior year which includes participating in a 40-hour internship. Participating students must then do a presentation about their experience.

“Several of our students have made wonderful connections with alumni and other business partners that have discussed potential jobs for after graduation from college,” said Pikin, noting that others may have found the experience “cool” but not what they wanted to pursue.

“It helps them a lot career-wise,” Pikin said. “They get a taste of what it is like. It is good to know in advance.”

Another option for juniors and seniors is an internal internship program where students work with a staff member during a study period with various tasks from admissions and special events to athletic training and technology.

Email Katie V. Jones at kjones@CatholicReview.org

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