On Sept. 22, Project Talent Launch (PTL) held its commencement event at Live Oak Park’s community center from 4-6 PM, celebrating the recent accomplishments of its new interns. The event began with an introductory ceremony and concluded with each intern being acknowledged for their hard work and dedication over the course of their internship
PTL is an organization dedicated to offering comprehensive guidance on various career paths, catalyzing many students’ successful high school journeys. Founded in 2020, PTL has become a beacon for students seeking hands-on experience in their desired career fields.
The organization, designed as a bridge connecting interns to professional opportunities, has made massive strides since its creation. To date, PTL has been able to facilitate upwards of 50 internships, with a total of $20,000 in scholarship awards given to well-deserving high schoolers. This year, the organization intends to offer 20 more internships and add another $11,000 in scholarships.
Several students from Gabrielino High School have been involved in PTL’s summer internship program, including seniors Kara Mak, Juliana Chieng, Dulce Lopez, and juniors Angie Phan and Megan Kong. Reflecting on her time with PTL, Dulce Lopez expressed her gratitude for the program’s flexibility.
“PTL accommodates student’s schedules by offering internships during the summer, which I believe most internships don’t provide,” Lopez said.
For many students, word-of-mouth played a key role in their discovery of PTL.
“I heard about Project Talent Launch through friends. I wanted to gain career experience and fill my summer schedule since it was quite free,” Kong explained.
Similarly, Phan learned about PTL through a close friend.
“I first learned about PTL through my friend Dulce, who was actively involved in the program and spoke highly of her experiences,” Phan shared. In contrast, Mak found out about PTL through social media. “I found out about PTL through Instagram,” she added.
Kong reflections on the work responsibilities that she upheld as an intern has led her to explore diverse career paths.
“I’ve developed important skills in a specific area, and I was given the actual responsibility of an employee, an essential role for the firm I was working for. You can feel the weight of your work, which contributes to the overall experience that I might have in the near future,” Kong explained.
All four students highly recommend PTL to their peers.
“I would definitely recommend PTL to my friends and family,” Kong shared candidly. “The program has exceeded my expectations, and I would not hesitate to recommend it,” Lopez added.
As the PTL program moves forward, its goal remains clear: to continue expanding its reach, offering more internships and scholarships each year, and helping students thrive both academically and professionally.
