METRO Internships Offer Meaningful Work Experiences

Yohana Franco said she was interested in interning with METRO because she wanted to give back to the organization that was always such a huge part of her life.

METRO Connections • July 2019

Internships can offer young people meaningful work experiences that can’t always be taught in a classroom or with a textbook. They also provide invaluable networking opportunities.

METRO's nine-week summer internship program offers up to a 40-hour workweek, with flexible schedules and work hours based on the department and the intern’s needs. Students can choose from internship opportunities in a variety of fields, including planning, law enforcement, engineering, communications, human resources and more.

University of Texas sophomore Yohana Franco applied at the end of her freshman year of college. The native Houstonian grew up using transit, taking the bus and rail to school and other activities. Franco was even featured in a METRO 2018 rider profile. She said those experiences made an impact on her.

"I was interested in working with METRO because I wanted to give back to the organization that was always such a huge part of my life. METRO was always there to provide my family with transportation when my father was not around to drive us." said Franco. "As soon as I found out about the internship opportunity, I applied." 

Franco said her experience as an intern taught her a lot about transit and its effect on people's lives and the region.

"Before interning, METRO was just a form of transportation to me.  After I started working here, I quickly began to understand how much it takes to run the organization and how important it is to the region. It impacts lives through mobility, accessibility, economic development and so much more," said Franco.

As her internship wraps up and she prepares to return to Austin, Franco said she was thankful for the opportunity and experience. 

"The people at METRO welcomed me with open arms. I'm grateful to them for allowing me to contribute my abilities and taking a genuine interest in my growth," said Franco. "The people here made my internship an incredible experience. I definitely encourage students to apply next spring!"

To learn more about METRO's internship program, click here.

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