I am very excited about the opportunity I have had this summer to intern at the Bermuda Education Network (BEN).My time at BEN has given me an in-depth understanding of how; an education charity in Bermuda functions, how it is able to provide programmes on a shoe string budget, what it means to help students be able to pursue their dreams, how to write my first press release, and, most importantly, what I need to do to secure my first real job in a market that currently sees 20 percent unemployment for people in my age group (16 to 24).This year, there are 28 very lucky students from the Berkeley Institute and Cedarbridge Academy participating in the Springboard programmes that are finding out that very same thing 11 in maths, nine in law, and eight in design Springboard. But, it has never been more important than it is today that this programme exists to help these students get their foot in the door of a very competitive employment market.Promising youth in the Math Springboard Programme have been given work shadow placements that are specific to their career interest. The students will have an opportunity to gain an inside look, and exposure to, careers in this field. They will also be given an opportunity to network with industry professionals who will give them important information on what is required to pursue a career as an actuary, underwriter, accountant, or credit manager.Being able to ask them questions as to how they ended up in their line of work, and what qualifications the professionals have that enabled them to succeed in their field, will be invaluable to these students, as they make important school, and career decisions, in their life.But Math Springboard isn’t just about work shadow. Students will also have opportunities to watch presentations, practice their maths skills, and become citizen journalists, as they research, interview and report on important career guidance issues for their peers, which will be featured in the July 11th issue of the Young Observer.However, none of this would be possible if it weren’t for the generous support of many companies and firms. This year’s Math Springboard partnering organizations are: Montpelier Re, KPMG, AON Insurance, Allied World Assurance Company, HSBC, Zurich Insurance Group, Sirius International Insurance Group, Partner Re.In this week’s Young Observer, you will find pictures, and biographies, of each of the citizen journalists on the Math Springboard Programme who will be writing career guidance articles for next week’s issue. Take a moment to learn who each of them are, and stay tuned for their articles next week.As for me, once my internship at BEN ends I am off to pursue my further education at St. Lawrence University. I will be doing a pre-law program, but with the core subjects being philosophy, anthropology, and ethics, the career, or post-graduate options, are not limited to law.My main goal is to be someone who can give the youth of Bermuda the global experience I have received through my travels. This may be realised through expanding or merging initiatives such as the Bermuda Education Network, into international organisations with similar goals; and this may be one of my main projects during my college experience.