Our two newspapers, the Desert Valley Star Weekly and the American Free Journal Weekly recently added four new interns to show them the ropes working with the Valley’s only weekly alternative newspaper. Each of them come from different backgrounds, and they are all hoping to gain something different out of their experiences here. Let’s learn a little about them and what they’ve had to say about their work experiences so far:

Elizabeth De La Rosa

“It’s a really nice environment. I loved it from the moment I walked in.” Elizabeth is 35 years young, attending Mayfield College in Cathedral City. She’s taking college courses to get her life back on track. “Working at the newspaper is teaching skills I will need like communication and etiquette.” Elizabeth’s goal is to become an alcohol and drug counselor, guiding kids towards a brighter future. She can be found behind the desk answering the phones, taking notes and smiling constantly. Mayfield College is a vocational college located in Cathedral City offering a variety of career paths and transitional intern programs leading to full time employment. t

Andrew Morales

“It’s a fast-paced environment, and it’s really fun and awesome working here.” Andrew is 20 and determined on getting his A.A. degree in Mass Communications at College of the Desert. He’s scheduled to graduate in June 2011, and he wants to be a writer, producer, or director in Hollywood. “I consider it a passion. I’m really good at it, and I love it. My hope is that this job will help me sharpen my skills.” His job at the Desert Valley Star is researching stories for publication and social media construction.

Brianna Marquez

“It’s inviting, and I think it’s a good learning place.” Brianna is 18 on her way to bigger things attending the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles. “I love the fashion industry, and I think this job will help me put my creativity to good use.” Brianna is very excited about her new job. She smiles a lot, and is very creative. “It’s always challenging to learn something new, but I have fun when I finish things.” Her job is designing the ads that go into the issues of the newspaper. When the ads come out in this issue, be sure to think of Brianna’s eye for fashion.

Drew Sierra

“I love working for the newspaper. It’s a very relaxed environment.” Drew, or Micah as the staff calls him, is 18 and recently graduated from Cathedral City High School. He’s planning on taking this next year off from school so he can save up money to send himself to a music school. “I think working here will help me get recognized. It’ll get my name in the paper, and help me pay for college.” His ultimate goal is to become a performer, preferably in opera. For now, Drew’s job is web design, but he’s being well rounded by picking up the phone at times and by learning how to develop social media for the paper.

The Summer Work Experience Program 2010 is adminstered by the Riverside Couinty Office of Education providing internships for Morales, Marquez, and Sierra. We welcome their youth, enthusiasm talent and spirit and are glad to have them with us for the next six weeks.