The challenge of moving from the protected and somewhat rigid environment of high school to college is challenging for all young adults. In fact the suicide rate at some colleges such as UC Berkeley can be disturbingly high. It is well known that most high schools do not teach students what to expect in college and many find it quite difficult to cope.
We send many of our students to some college classes while still in high school, and living at home, so they are very familiar with the college environment when they graduate BCS. Then we offer support to help explain what this great and exciting life transition is all about. We not only provide a top class education to our students and prepare them for higher education after high school; we also take very seriously the acquisition of real life skills in a very demanding modern world. We call this aspect of Balboa City School our internship program. Each year we have more students in our intern programs, many are paid. But certainly not all. We have had great success in building real partnerships in the community. Here are a few of our current Internship opportunities:
This group meets aboard the USS Midway one Saturday each month. Working under the leadership and supervision of the museum’s manager of aircraft restoration, these students assist in the preservation and maintenance of the many aircraft on static display.
These students provide weekly care for the many live specimens on display at the museum. They are also available to answer questions posed by the public in the Discovery Zone.
Interns at ACES work with the predominantly volunteer staff to refurbish donated computers that are then resold for a nominal $50.00 to individuals who cannot afford a new computer. The computers are also provided with basic word processing and internet access software.
ACES interns serve as teaching aides to the teachers and staff at this non-public school for low functioning autistic children.
Thanks you for your continued support of Balboa City School. If you know of anyone who might interested in supporting this important program and these wonderful students who are making futures for themselves every day please tell them about our program. Certainly, out there in the “real world” your children, our students, are getting rave reviews from their supervisors. Please consider supporting our program in any way you might be able to. We appreciate all you do for our students.