Work Experience Program Pilot Year Showcases Student Growth Through Career Exploration, Mentorship, and Internships
As the Work Experience Program (WEP) concludes its pilot year, students are reflecting on a year of career exploration, identifying future pathways, and gaining hands-on experience through internships, job shadow opportunities, and more.
Throughout the year, students also gained valuable experience working directly with industry partners, collaborating with professionals across a range of fields while building workplace skills, confidence, and professional networks.
In May, the program’s 19 participating students gathered for the Mentor Coaching Luncheon, a culminating event celebrating their growth and learning throughout the year. Students connected with industry partners, presented their career plans and professional portfolios, and participated in one-on-one coaching sessions with mentors or professionals aligned with their interests. They received valuable feedback on both their future goals and their professional portfolios—job-seeking tools that showcase skill development and demonstrate an understanding of long-term economic mobility.
Participating partners included Alaska Airlines, Belkin, Bike-O-Rama, El Segundo Police Department, Kinecta, Olson Visual, The Record House, The Sports Complex, Systems Training Center, and TDE, Inc. We are deeply grateful to every industry partner who gave their time, energy, and expertise.
WEP students reflected on their experience:
“WEP helped me understand how to properly present myself in a professional manner, especially in interview settings. Through learning the STAR method and developing my elevator pitch, I now know how to communicate myself and my values in a clear and concise way.”
“WEP helped me gain the reassurance that my past experiences and skills were applicable in a variety of different settings. Prior to WEP, I thought that I would be limited due to my inexperience with some of the more sought-after skills needed in the retail or fast food industry. The program helped me recognize that my existing experiences and strengths have value in professional settings.”
"The program has helped me learn that AI is impacting pretty much every single career field, so people need to learn how to upskill and improve their AI literacy."
Experiences like these are exactly what the Work Experience Program is designed to provide. Part of Da Vinci’s career education curriculum, WEP launched this year as an elective course for juniors and seniors to gain job readiness skills and early professional exposure. By learning foundational workplace skills, building professional networks, and exploring potential career paths, students gain confidence and clarity about their futures.
The event centered around the theme, “What You Say Out Loud Becomes Your Story,” a quote by Egae, lead singer of Huntrix from KPop Demon Hunters. This message encouraged students to recognize that they are actively shaping their narratives—not waiting to begin.
Ultimately, the Work Experience Program strives to create spaces where students can tell their stories and push beyond limitations to pursue new possibilities. In doing so, we continue our greater mission together: to expand access to career readiness and preparation, foster meaningful connections with mentors, and create opportunities for students to step into professional spaces where they have not always been represented.
