Written by Bella Morin
The Partners for Rural Impact (PRI) organization has been an amazing positive influence not only on me, but on the community-at-large. The organization has provided learning and financial advancement opportunities for high schoolers throughout Whitley County. It served as a platform to allow passionate high schoolers like myself to act in our community and gain valuable work experience that will help us as we seek jobs both in and out of high school. I have truly struggled to find the proper words to portray my gratitude to the program while staying brief and professional.
The “Learn and Earn” program through PRI has been one of the best aspects of my summer. It has been a very helpful and convenient way to make money and gain valuable experience. Not only that, but it really makes me feel good about serving my community, and I am sure that others working in this program would say the same. I have briefly interviewed some of my fellow classmates who have also worked through PRI, and I have heard nothing but good things. The most common emotion shared through all of them is the gratitude they expressed for the knowledge they’ve gained through the program.
My internship was at the Corbin News Journal, and while working there, I not only fell in love with journalism but also had an amazing chance to have my writing skills assessed and improved upon by real professionals. After spending months working with them, the good people of the Corbin News Journal feel like a family, and it makes me immeasurably happy that I was able to make so many new friends and learn so much through PRI. The environment was nurturing and collaborative; I didn’t feel like an employee or an intern; I felt like an essential member of a team.
This experience has helped me gain confidence in not only my writing but also in myself. It has helped me feel valuable and realize that I can be a truly valuable asset to a company in both skill and monetary value. I also know how to apply many things I’ve learned in high school in the real world. Outside of the obvious writing skills I have applied, I have also been able to apply time management, money saving, and calculating different budgets relevant to the cost of living. PRI is so much more than just an internship program, and there is so much depth to the opportunities it can provide people with.
Most internships are unpaid, and the experience gained is simply seen as valid payment, but PRI is different. The standard rate through the program is about 9-10 dollars an hour (well above minimum wage). The hours are extremely flexible, and everyone who was cooperating with the Learn and Earn program was wise and friendly. Additionally, depending on the position, a good portion of the work can be done from home, so transportation is much less of an issue. Although I did the majority of my work for the newspaper at home, I still loved going into the office and working alongside the real professionals.
Sure, there are some awkward moments here and there, but that comes with any new experience. I think that, considering how new and relatively unfamiliar the program is, the entire experience went extremely smoothly. I strongly urge any and all high schoolers who are able next summer to join me and my classmates in PRI as we continue to learn and earn.
