(City Councilwoman Rebecca Garcia (third from left) meets with high school students Sofia Soto (from left), Rosalie Jimenez and Sophia Elizalde during Watsonville Wednesday at Watsonville Plaza. The three students are part of the inaugural Summer in the City Internship Program. Photo by Erik Chalhoub/Pajaronian)
WATSONVILLE — Twenty local high school students are spending their summer getting a first-hand look at how Watsonville’s government works.
The inaugural Summer in the City Internship Program, put on by the City of Watsonville and Pajaro Valley Unified School District, wraps up its three-week run on July 27.
From Monday through Friday, students spend their morning in a class at city hall, and afterward, they work in various city departments.
Those who complete the program will receive a $500 stipend, as well as 2.5 elective credits.
Aptos High School senior Rosalie Jimenez said she’s always had an interest in politics and history, so she jumped at the opportunity to join the internship program.
“When I heard about the internship, I was so stoked,” she said. “I wanted to see what an actual local government does.”
Jimenez is interning at the city’s Human Resources department, where she is helping sort through credit card statements and posting articles to the city’s website, among other duties.
Watsonville High School junior Sofia Soto is working in the City Clerk’s office, which is helping candidates file for the November election.
She said she has met many people throughout city government during her time in the program.
“I like how it’s not just one thing and sitting in an office,” she said. “You are going around and seeing what everyone needs.”
While interning at the City Manager’s office, Watsonville High School senior Sophia Elizalde is helping to find funding for homelessness programs.
She said she hopes to find a career in either politics or education in the future.
“I’m really glad I signed up,” Elizalde said. “I’m learning about a lot of jobs I didn’t know existed.”
Watsonville City Councilwoman Rebecca Garcia, who helped establish the internship program, said the program is part of the city’s goal to increase community engagement.
“I’m so excited this idea came to fruition,” she said. “I thanked the students for being adventurous. They are willing to learn about what they can do in the city.”
