Ensights Magazine

Foot in the Door

The Foot in the Door Internship Program

Tiffany Townsend, Director of Marketing & Communications
Many agree that one’s first job is often a function of opportunity born through personal connections. Numerous studies suggest that access to entry on a career path is often an intersection between hard work and knowing the right person.
However, access to information and opportunity can be limited for many high school and college students. The Foot in the Door Internship Program was established to help open these doors for students at one of the most critical times in their lives.    

Director of Community Engagement and Inclusion David Whitfield modeled the program after other successful internship programs at independent schools across the country. He partnered with student leader Lucy Butler ’21 to implement the program during the 2020-2021 school year, undeterred by the challenges presented by COVID. 

“We want to give Ensworth students practical experience in career training and a sense of how to be in a workplace,” David explains. “It gives them a chance to expand their knowledge and experience and use time in the summer more constructively. Although some opportunities last year were limited because of COVID, I think it actually helped us begin thoughtfully and build carefully with companies that are closely connected to Ensworth.”
    
To be considered for the program, students must submit an application and obtain two recommendations from teachers. They must also commit to attending educational sessions, performing the necessary research that precedes practical experience, writing periodic reflection pieces during the course of the internship, and keeping a running log of hours of their service. Selected students are then paired with an outside entity based upon grade level, interest, and suitability.    

In its inaugural year, the program matched 10 Ensworth students with different summer internships throughout the Nashville area. Zion Wynn ’21 was part of this initial group, and he was paired with Tractor Supply, which he notes was a company that would not have been on his radar otherwise. He worked alongside five other interns, and while he started performing basic duties, Zion quickly became involved in more significant initiatives. He organized Tractor Supply events and helped plan and pilot their mentor circles program. He also assisted in brokering partnerships with foundations, helping the company find impactful ways to give back to the community.

“The experience really helped me grow in being open to meeting new people. I was interacting with employees at all different levels: store and district managers, directors, etc.,” says Zion. “And everyone seemed very interested in learning more about me and my story; they were truly invested in me and my success.”

William Vreeland ’21 also participated in the program, interning with Thompson Machinery last summer. He didn’t have any previous experience in the machinery industry, but he quickly picked up a general sense of the business. Working closely with the sales and marketing team, William assisted with various projects, including promotions for the NASCAR race at the Nashville Superspeedway. 

“During my time with Thompson Machinery, I was able to meet with department heads and learn about all facets of the company: human resources, development, etc. And I felt like I gained true insight into sales and marketing; it’s something you can’t truly understand until you’ve done it. It’s practical, not just conceptual, and it requires creativity and problem-solving skills,” shares William. When asked if he would recommend the program to other students, he offers an enthusiastic endorsement, “Do it! It’s a great experience, and the fact that Ensworth is able to use this community to leverage benefits for their students is wonderful. Don’t overlook this opportunity.”

After her internship experience last summer, Bella Chadwick ’22 decided to take on a more prominent role with the program, promoting the opportunity to fellow students and facilitating the connections with local businesses in setting up this summer’s internships. “It’s such a valuable program because you get to work with extremely hard-working people and learn from them,” says Bella.  “It helped me gain a new sense of independence while also making me understand the importance of pure teamwork. It gives you real-life experience in a work environment and can give you insight on what you want to do.”

Whitfield is working with both Chadwick and Catherine Duvall ’22 this year to grow the program. “Our goal is to add five students per year over the next five years, so our hope is to place 15 students this year,” he says. “Right now, we have ten companies that have signed up to partner with us in the summer of 2022, although we are always looking for additional opportunities. We want it to be a practical benefit for both the student and the organization they are working with.”

Companies interested in participating in the Foot in the Door Internship program are encouraged to reach out to David Whitfield at whitfieldd@ensworth.com for more information.
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Red Gables Campus (K–8)

Nashville, TN 37205
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Ensworth is a coeducational, kindergarten through twelfth grade, independent day school.