Indy Standard

Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) is highlighting its students preparing for careers after high school through the Student Career Spotlight initiative. This program showcases current students and recent graduates participating in the IPS Workforce and Career Development project, part of the district’s Rebuilding Stronger initiative aimed at upgrading school facilities over the next several years.

The IPS Workforce and Career Development project offers hands-on experience in fields such as architecture, engineering, construction, financial services, and law. It aims to empower students to tackle real-world challenges through immersive learning experiences. These Q&A sessions provide insights into students' transformative experiences at area firms where they engage in job shadowing, internships, or apprenticeships.

Ethan Powell, a 2023 graduate of Shortridge High School, is currently spending his summer interning at JS Held. The global consulting firm provides specialized technical, scientific, financial, and advisory services. Its Indianapolis office assists IPS with capital improvements planning and implementation through the Rebuilding Stronger initiative. Powell is now a rising sophomore at Ball State University studying construction management with plans to graduate in 2027.

In a Q&A session, Powell shared details about his internship:

Q—What is your internship all about?

A—"Currently, I am interning for JS Held. I personally am involved with project support, so we represent the owner during projects and communicate with the contractor and architect about the desires of the owner. The owner hires us to not only represent their interests and what they want in the project but also to let them know that they have someone with knowledge of construction on their side to help mitigate risk."

Q—What are your main responsibilities and tasks during your internship?

A—"My main responsibilities and tasks during my internship are assisting with zoning and land use submissions, attending construction meetings, assisting with project documentation, developing project communication tools, updating project budget systems, and participating in community stakeholder meetings."

Q—What has been the most exciting project or task you’ve worked on so far during your internship?

A—"The most exciting thing I’ve done during my internship was attend the groundbreaking for James Whitcomb Riley School 43 and Eliza Blaker School 55 because I’ve always seen groundbreakings happen but haven’t been able to be a part of one. It felt good to be in an environment with so many important people and to be part of something that is involved with a school district that I’m a product of."

Q—How is your internship experience helping you grow professionally and personally?

A—"The internship is helping me simply by placing me in places where I’m around professional people so I’m able to see how everyone acts and how people go about certain things, and I’m able to be a sponge and soak in those qualities and apply them to myself. Personally it’s making me talk a little more than I normally would in my regular life because in this field you must talk to get things done. There’s been a couple times where I’ve sat in on meetings and had to provide deeper information about myself than I normally would."

Q—What is one of the biggest challenges you have faced during your internship, and how are you overcoming it?

A—"The challenge I’ve faced during my internship is adjusting to the change in my schedule. I work from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., which has made me prioritize time management more because there’s not much time left in the day when I get off so I must plan things outside of work to stay organized throughout the week."

Q—What advice would you give other students who are considering doing an internship in your field?

A—"A piece of advice I would give other students who are considering doing an internship in the construction management field is to be open to learning and doing anything; don’t confine yourself because you may find joy in something unexpected. Another thing would be to build connections because those connections could set you up for future opportunities."