| The OP hits the nail on the head when she highlights persistence. As a high school student, you can't underestimate the power of professional emails sent to the right people, and reminders sent at the appropriate times. However, I think the emphasis on a "personal network," is a little overstated, especially at this age. As a 2012 HS grad, I think I have a decent perspective on the types of networks most modern HS students have available. The OP seems to have gotten lucky with her CS teacher, but for a large number of students, those connections simply aren't available. My high school didn't even have a CS class, let alone a teacher with contacts at Valve. I think it's worth mentioning that a large number of internships exist for high school students/rising college students in the public sector. Many of these internships are tailored toward recent HS grads/HS upperclassmen, and don't require a networking push or a special exception to get into. A couple examples: 1. I'm a Cape Canaveral local, and I know for a fact that NASA offers a ton of really cool internship positions specifically geared toward high school students (they even brought in a bunch of the local valedictorians and tried to recruit us). 2. I'm currently interning at the National Institutes of Health, and they too have programs specifically targeting high school students. From the core research, to relocation, to social events, the program is designed with recent HS grads in mind. If anyone reading this wants to ask about the program, feel free to email me. Short Version:
Persistence = Good.
Networking = not the only way.
Internship programs for HS students = more accessible option. |