For the past five years, I have had the pleasure of working with a Metuchen High School student intern. The program pairs interested high school students with local businesses to provide an inside look at how work gets done. Each year, the students who have come to spend a few hours per week with me have been really interesting, motivated kids. They come to my studio after spending a full day at school and often before they head off to other activities at night. I’ve been fortunate that they all have been flexible and willing to work on different projects each time. This year, my intern is a sophomore whose favorite medium is oil paint but she’s had no problem jumping in to learn screen printing, mobile making and cutting glass to make jewelry. She’s enthusiastic, funny and willing to learn and try. For her, I hope the experience is helping her see from the inside that running an art business can be both chaotic and mundane, depending on the day. Ultimately she may not go into a career in art but I think that the same can be said about almost all jobs— some days are fun and crazy and others are more routine. Whether it’s through an internship, a summer job, or a part-time job during the school year, I think the practical knowledge that can be gained outside of the classroom offers valuable lessons for teenagers. And I truly enjoy the opportunity to share my business with these great kids!