I am currently attending an internship at K&J Motorsports in East Dorset Vermont. With this expert experience I am able to expand my knowledge and understanding of the automotive technology field.  Before attending this internship I had very little knowledge of the automotive field. Through this internship I was able to learn a lot and explore this field. I learned the proper way to replace and repair breaks, wheel hubs, change and balance a tire, and replace power steering and fix steering racks and so much more. One of the most important things I learned was a lesson in patience. Instead of getting upset when things didn’t go right, I now take a step back, maybe go get a drink and just take a breath. Throughout this experience I have gained a great passion for this kind of work and would like to open my own shop one day.

My experience in GIA was so carefree and fun, while also being structured and I learned a lot while doing it. I made so many friends who have the same interests as me, and found people I can be goofy around. GIA truly taught me how to find my favorite medium and my artstyle and I will never ever forget the happiness it brought me. Big shoutout to my dorm RA Casey we nicknamed her as Mother  

I went to the southern GIV camp in the summer of 2024. At this program I got to learn about many different aspects of medical fields, and get hands-on experience and sense of what I might want to do in health and medicine. During the camp, we had classes to learn many different skills that can be used on an ambulance and to just help people. Some things we learned were CPR, stopping the bleed and tourniquets just to name a few. This program was a great opportunity for me and my next step towards my future.

The community at GIV was amazing. Everyone loved what they were doing and had some type of interest in learning health and medicine. The people there were nice and supportive, especially the team that was teaching us. Being around people with the same interests as me , made a very good community that I would love to join in the future. I made so many meaningful connections with people that went farther than just a shared interest in health and medicine.

The experience I was granted was the Broadway Summit in New York City for two days with Broadway professionals. It was a fantastic experience, and it helped me learn more about the work that actors/actresses have to put in to make a play/musical come to life for us to watch. I was able to go to Hamilton through the class and see the choreography that I had learned earlier that day. I also was able to meet kids from all over America and the world who loved acting just as much as I did, and I was even able to make friends whom I'm keeping in touch with. Through this experience, I learned so much, including choreography, singing, and the different paths people take to get to where they are on Broadway.

At the AMDA High School Summer Conservatory, I was able to engage in an intensive, 2 week program, in which I was able to collaborate with teachers from the industry and other passionate high schoolers to create a challenging and fulfilling final performance, explore New York monuments, audition for the conservatory, and make incredible friendships I will hold dearly even following the experience. It was incredibly fulfilling, exciting, engaging, and so welcoming. I cannot recommend this experience enough.

When looking for my first steps to start a future career, I asked Mr. Pergament what would be smart to do. An internship is so out of my comfort zone and I was really nervous initially going into it. The women at the salon was really nice and they showed me so many skills that I can take with me forever. I learned what good costumer service looks like because they had me get the phone at work on the computer most of the time. On a more cosmetic level, I learned how to work with different skin and nail types to assist everyone differently. This process taught me a lot. I got a lot of practice in the salon and I took the skills I learned when practicing at home too. Internships are great in taking that first step to help you in your decision moving forward and acquire skills and experience. 

This summer I went to a film and acting camp up in Burlington called SOCAPA and it was a blast. For 2 weeks we went to acting classes and made short 1-4 minute videos. The people I met there were amazing and funny. Anyone how would like or think about acting or filming should check out this program 

For the first semester of my senior year, I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad in Pau, France. The main goal for this trip was to advance my language skills, but in the end, I learned so much more. While I was there, I took all of my classes in French with other French students. I learned how to communicate and ask questions in a language I was not proficient in. Through this direct exposure, my language skills advanced at a very rapid rate. I also was able to better understand the culture and learning environment. High school in France is much different than here in America. They move at a faster pace, and it’s more lecture-style teaching. Though this cultural difference was one of the hardest hurdles I had to overcome, I feel much more prepared for college. While I was there, I took an economics class. I learned that for my future career, I wanted to have numbers and communications in the mix. From there, I realized that my calling was in the marketing field.  This opportunity grant was given to me the first time I went to France during my sophomore year. From there, I completely fell in love with the environment and I wanted to go back for a semester. I wouldn’t have been able to go on this amazing adventure had it not been for this grant. I am extremely grateful to the Stratton Foundation and the Success community as a whole for helping me make this happen.  

My internship experience went great I got to learn about bikes and I got to get hands on with multiple ages of bikes and engines. The person I interned with was very helpful in teaching me how to use different tools and when to use them.

For my grant I received tools for work. I work at a small garage in Andover doing body work and mechanics. I got a variety of tools from ratchets and wrenches to power tools and jacks. I use these tools every single day and have gotten me one step closer to my dream of opening my own shop. 

This summer I was given the opportunity to go to Governors Institute Of Vermont. We learned about health and medicine so we could plan our future for college and other careers. We got to explore all different types of medicine throughout a whole week at the Castleton campus. My favorite part about GIV was when we got to learn how to give people shots and assess a newborn baby.

Over the course of 2 week I was able to have a a couple accelerated engineering courses at RPI. During this time I got to spend time with kids my age who share similar interests and skill along with being able to network with the engineering faculty and Rensselaer. It was a great experience that I learned a lot from and got a feel for how the next four years of my life will (hopefully) be like. 

Being an intern at the Dorset School and assisting the teacher was an incredible experience for me. I had the opportunity to learn firsthand about being an educator and it was eye opening. I connected with each student and it was amazing to see their growth and progress. I completed tasks that the teacher assigned to me, like preparing materials, organizing the classroom, or helping students with their math or literacy work.

I can't express how much I loved this experience and how grateful I am to the Stratton Foundation for giving me this opportunity. It was an incredible experience that really solidified my passion for teaching . Everything I learned during my internship will help me to become a great educator in the future. 

This summer I was presented with an amazing opportunity to go to Alfred College to work on my pottery skills and build my portfolio for art school. I would have never been able to go to these camps and it not been for the Opportunity Grant and help from Jason. The first project that the professor had us do for the wheel intensive was making at least 4 mugs for a mug exchange. He then let us have more free time with demos along the way. He showed us how to make stacked forms, attached handles, make different shapes and be more mindful about our throwing. He also worked with us on glazing, wax, and carving different shapes into the clay. This class helped me so much especially with applying handles. I feel that I learned a lot and it was a very useful experience for my future. As for the other class, building my portfolio, I made two projects to go in my portfolio. One is a still life and one is a print. This class was quite hard for me but I definitely learned a lot as I don’t draw a lot and it was mainly drawing.