Through the Summer Youth Employment Program, high school students across San Diego County stepped into professional environments, gaining hands-on work experience and exploring new possibilities for their future career journeys.
For partners like Hawthorne Cat, now in their third year participating in the program, this effort represents more than community engagement — it reflects a commitment to developing future talent and strengthening the workforce pipeline. As industries continue to evolve and face ongoing talent shortages, especially in technical and trade-related roles, creating early access points for young people has never been more important.
During their internship at Hawthorne Cat, students got exposure to a range of career paths in the industry, including warehouse operations, marketing, customer service, accounting, and skilled trades. This kind of cross-functional experience allows students to see how different roles connect and contribute to a business, while also helping them identify their own interests.
Programs like this create meaningful opportunities for employees to engage directly with young people and advance their own leadership and communication skills. Employees offer guidance, share their own career journeys, and help students navigate unfamiliar professional settings. This kind of mentorship plays a critical role in shaping how students view the workplace. It humanizes industries, builds confidence, and creates a sense of belonging that extends far beyond technical skill-building.
“It’s good for our employees to be able to mentor and feel like they’re individually involved in giving back. This is a way that a lot of our employees get to participate and feel like they’re a part of it too,” said Christos Giannaris, GM Marketing & Digital at Hawthorne. “I think one of the cool things about it is when kids can see themselves in these jobs and see people they can relate to.”
For students, these relationships often become one of the most impactful parts of the experience. From the connections students make with professionals in the field, they build their confidence and gain a clearer understanding of workplace expectations. Through daily interactions, they develop communication skills, learn how to collaborate, and begin to see themselves as capable contributors.
Experiences like this help young people think more expansively about their options and feel more prepared to make informed decisions about what comes next.
“We’ve been able to see the corporate side and the hands-on side and that there are other pathways other than going to college,” said Sofia, a recent graduate from Chula Vista Learning Community Charter High School and intern at Hawthorne. “It’s shown me that I really like the community that they have here, and I want a job where everyone sort of supports one another.”
The Summer Youth Employment Program demonstrates what is possible when businesses and education partners work together to create meaningful early career experiences. Through this partnership model, organizations like Hawthorne Cat play a direct role in shaping how young people understand work, build confidence, and explore future pathways, while also strengthening their own culture of mentorship and engagement.
By opening their doors to students and investing time, mentorship, and real workplace exposure, partners help build a more connected and prepared future workforce. These shared efforts reflect a long-term commitment to talent development that benefits students, employers, and the broader regional economy.