Interns contribute a lot of value - they don't run around making coffee. Being an intern makes it much more likely to get an FTE role too which is more than most 18 year olds.
If by rewarded you mean comp, then yes I'm very happy with it for my age. Given the situation outside - just grateful to have a job right now.
I chose this over university - I get paid and am working towards a CS degree as part of the work. Granted, am not an intern (I'm something different) but I understand they are well paid at FAANG companies and the experience is the same.
If the work you do is valuable then it deserves a comp that matches a full time workers rate.
Also, we work in computer science and a for a vast majority of developers it's business as usual. So I wouldn't say that it's particularly generous or lucky.
Oh I agree, but I'm here to learn more than anything. And I'm certainly not underpaid compared to market.
Before this current job I hadn't worked as a professional (outside of minor freelance work in my home town) so I see this as bootstrapping a career with zero student debt, plus there's perks like travel opportunities and accelerated career growth which I couldn't easily get elsewhere.
> Also, we work in computer science and a for a vast majority of developers it's business as usual. So I wouldn't say that it's particularly generous or lucky.
I was lucky enough to be born into a good family, where I could learn the skills to be where I am today, no?
Source: Also a 19 y/o Googler.