Federal Reserve Bank’s TIP Program Encourages Work-Based Learning All Year

Thomas Blake has worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston for almost two years, and he hasn’t even graduated high school yet. Blake—like hundreds of other students over the years—participates in the Fed’s Today’s Interns, Tomorrow’s Professionals (TIP) internship program. For over 40 years, the Fed and the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) have partnered to provide paid work and learning opportunities for Boston Public School students during the summer and the school year.

A distinguishing feature of the TIP program is its multiyear and cohort format. With the support of PIC Career Specialists, interested students begin the process during their sophomore year, attending both a school information session and a job shadow day hosted at the Fed. After submitting an application and interviewing, those accepted begin the preparatory Early Engagement program in March. Following successful completion of the EE program, students then interview and are selected for summer internships, potentially continuing in subsequent school years and summers.

Blake, a senior at the John D. O’Bryant High School, started working at the Fed during his sophomore summer. In the nearly two years spent at the Fed, Blake has continued to learn and grow in his role as a Photo Video Intern in the Communications Department. The possibility of continuing to work at the Fed was a major point of attraction to him when deciding where to apply for an internship. “It definitely motivated me, knowing that I’m going to get to stay here and learn even more,” he says. 

Blake’s day-to-day responsibilities differ much between the summer and school year. The school year is “very different from what I would do in the summer,” he says. “In the summer, I have eight hours every day. In the school year, I only have two, so my work needs to fit in those two hours.” Editing photos and videos and setting up equipment form the bulk of his school year duties, while he’s able to go to events and capture photos and video himself in the summer. 

Balancing school and work can be a challenge. “In my junior year, everything was piling up,” Blake shares. Juggling difficult classes and demanding extracurriculars, he learned that the key to success is maintaining a consistent routine and mastering time-management. Having an understanding and flexible department and supervisor helps, too.

Throughout the school year and the summer, the TIP program provides several professional development opportunities to learn about a wide range of topics, from personal finance and mindfulness to professional writing and Office 365 applications. The career development sessions also allow interns to network with each other and learn more about their respective roles and departments.  

In addition to getting to know his fellow interns, Blake has been able to build a solid rapport with his supervisor, Stephen Osemwenkhae. The Senior Photography and Video Specialist has shown Blake the ropes, guiding him through both the technical aspects of the job and the soft skills like teamwork. He encourages Blake to build connections, saying, “Developing relationships with peers and within the workplace gives interns a better idea of what their work environment will look like for whatever they want to do in the future.” 

During his time at the Fed, Blake has established a solid foundation for success in the workplace. In the fall, he plans to attend college for engineering. When asked about the skills he learned his internship that he’ll bring with him into college and career, Blake had a quick answer. “Professionalism,” he says. “It’s really helpful for understanding how to work effectively with people.” 

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