Trial by Fire: An Intern’s Training on the Tarmac

Story by Anna Cosner, BB2C Storytelling Intern, Williamstown High School Class of ‘26

High school internships come in many shapes and sizes. They can be as unique as the students seeking them and the businesses hosting them. Blake Brown, a senior at Williamstown High School in Wood County, WV, has an opportunity to intern as part of his regular school day. His school offers seniors a chance to complete a year-long internship. Students intern 15 hours a week, three hours a day, with local businesses and organizations based on their career interests. They receive academic credit for successfully completing their internship. Building Bridges to Careers Placement Coordinator, Lara Coghlan, worked with Williamstown High School to place 20 seniors with a variety of host sites this year. Blake was placed at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport.

Williamstown Middle/High Senior, Blake Brown at the MOV Regional Airport.

Blake’s internship so far has included running through fire. The Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport held its yearly Fire Day on Wednesday, September 17. The day consists of shutting the airport down and practicing skills in the event of emergencies such as engine fires or jet fuel spills. The morning is reserved for airport employees, while the afternoon is for all local fire departments.

For Blake, the training included partnering with a senior employee and distinguishing between a simulated spill fire, a tire fire, an engine fire, and the inside of a simulated airplane cabin. When asked if he was nervous the day of, he responded, “Not really. I’m more excited to do something I wouldn’t get to do on a normal day.” The simulated experience lasted about five minutes in total, but was packed with lots of real-world experience and influence.

Blake entering the cockpit of a plane.

While talking before the training exercise, he never lost his unwavering excitement to be included in the annual Fire Day. When he was asked about how this opportunity came to be, the answer was quite simple. “They told me a few weeks ago what it was and asked if I wanted to join. I feel like it would have been dumb to say no.” As he suited up in gear, it was hard to distinguish him from the other seasoned firefighters. He handled the training like a seasoned pro, a compliment to his experience as an intern at the airport.

When asked about the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport as a new internship host site this year, Lara shared, “They modified a college intern plan to fit high school students. Over the course of the year, Blake will cover all the career paths available at the airport, from maintenance and safety to business and operations. We are always excited to bring on new high school intern host sites and watch how they customize their needs to the interests and skills of high school students.”

If you’re interested in hosting high school interns at your business or organization, you can find more information here as well as reach out to Lara at internships@bb2careers.org.