Summer may seem like it is long gone, but Courtney Rojas learned some pretty valuable lessons in the eight weeks starting on June 13. Rojas spent her summer working as a Summer Youth Intern for Kaiser Permanente. This was perfect training for her future career as a Labor and Delivery nurse.

“I’m organized and determined,” Rojas said. “I finish all tasks really well (file, print, fax).” These are some of the things that make her a good employee, but this job was special. “In this case I gave great eye exams,” she said. Depending on the circumstances, Rojas had to dress professionally or in her scrubs. She knew which day required which garment and which access badge. Her biggest challenges were keeping up with deadlines for projects, but she enjoyed the tasks and the responsibilities.

Rojas described her boss, Charmaine Gandy, as “Amazing” and called her a “wonderful role model, ready to help me learn.” Although it was an internship, Rojas earned $10 an hour and worked 40 hour weeks. Her best advice for future workers can be summed up in one word: Professionalism. “Be professional and follow directions,” she said.

Before working at Kaiser, she worked at Popeye’s Chicken, but her experience as an intern has helped prepare her for her future. It was important, but she still keeps a balance. “When I’m not working I love to swim and go to the beach,” she said. “If it’s an ugly day, I go shopping.”