Safety Scout for a Semester

Internships offer scholars the chance to delve into a new role and meet important professional mentors that can propel their future career. When the pandemic paused off-campus opportunities, senior Trong Lam connected with Vice Principal Nelika Fai Watson for a unique internship position.

Lam became The Preuss School’s primary safety manager during the fall semester. He planned safety drills, presented reports to administrators, surveyed classrooms for safety supplies and created press passes for yearbook and journalism students. In addition, Lam relayed student concerns and opinions about school culture and climate as well as learned about the vice principal role in relation to school operations.

“I personally gained a better understanding of what being a leader is,” said Lam. “Being the VP Intern, I had to lead my peers and…I found it really meaningful to contribute to campus safety. Also, Ms. Watson taught me what it takes to become a successful person growing up.”

All Preuss seniors have the opportunity to take part in an internship as one of three core elements of the Senior Year project, which also involves service learning and research. Internships help prepare scholars to be self-directed and gain confidence in their ability to contribute to a project or organization.

Watson described how Lam transformed into a leader during his internship, “I enjoyed working with Trong because he took his duties very seriously…he became a go-to person for the student body. Middle school students reported incidents to him regularly. Even when he was not on duty, he took responsibility for the safety of the school and his peers.”

Lam plans to attend UC Berkeley after he graduates this June, where he will continue to foster his leadership skills and help others find their inner leader.

The Preuss School continues to seek internship experiences for scholars. If you have a professional opportunity, please contact Jacqueline Azize-Brewer at jazizebrewer@ucsd.edu.