Investing in the Next Generation: Elisha’s Internship Story

From December through mid-March, we had the opportunity to welcome Elisha as an intern at JSAW. Over the course of three months, he stepped into the day-to-day life of the ministry—serving customers, helping coach younger riders, and completing a capstone project that challenged him to grow in new ways.

Internships like this are about much more than helping with day-to-day tasks. They’re about investing in young leaders and giving them real opportunities to grow personally, professionally, and spiritually. Elisha’s experience is a great example of what that can look

like.

A Challenge That Led to Growth

When asked about his favorite part of the internship, Elisha said he appreciated that the environment was both “chill but also challenging.”

The biggest challenge for him was his capstone project, which pushed him to step up in ways he hadn’t before. It required planning, preparation, and presenting his ideas clearly—skills that many young people don’t get to practice until much later.

Rather than being discouraged by the challenge, Elisha saw it as a positive experience that helped him grow.

Learning Real-World Skills

Throughout the internship, Elisha developed several practical skills that will serve him well in the future.

Working in the shop and interacting with riders helped him build customer service skills and learn how to communicate effectively with people of all ages. He also spent time helping teach and coach younger kids, which required patience, leadership, and the ability to explain things clearly.

Perhaps most importantly, Elisha said the experience pushed him outside of his comfort zone and helped him learn how to connect with people more confidently.

Growing in Responsibility

Elisha also saw growth in areas like time management and personal responsibility.

The internship required him to stay on top of deadlines, manage his schedule, and prepare presentations. Over time, he became more confident in organizing his work and communicating what he had prepared.

These kinds of workplace habits can be difficult to learn in a classroom, but they become very real when you’re responsible for completing meaningful work.

Discovering What Work Can Be

One thing that surprised Elisha during his time at JSAW was the culture.

He shared that he was surprised by how kind and welcoming both the staff and customers were. That environment made the experience feel personal and meaningful rather than just like a typical job.

When asked if the work felt interesting and meaningful, Elisha said it did—especially because of the connections he was able to build with people.

Experiences like this help young people see that work can be more than just a paycheck. It can be a place where relationships are formed and lives are impacted.

Clarifying the Future

Internships often help students figure out what they want to do next, and Elisha’s experience was no different.

He shared that the internship helped him feel more confident in his workplace and retail skills, while also helping him think more clearly about his next steps in education. He’s currently considering trade school as part of his future plans.

For now, Elisha plans to spend the summer enjoying time with friends and skating before starting PSEO classes.

Why Internships Matter

At the end of the interview, Elisha shared something that meant a lot to our team. He said he loved the experience and the opportunity to work in ministry, and that it’s something he hopes to continue doing in his life.

That’s exactly why programs like this matter.

Internships at JSAW are designed to give young people a place to learn skills, grow in confidence, build relationships, and explore how their faith and passions connect to real life.

Because of the support of our community and donors, students like Elisha get opportunities that shape not only their future careers—but also the kind of people they become.

And we’re excited to see where his journey goes next.