Alma Godinez, a senior at Benilde St. Margaret’s High School in St. Louis Park, MN, is always busy. She’s part of the swim team at her high school. She dances with a group called Mexican Yolotl. They’re a group based in Minneapolis and perform traditional Aztec dances. “I’ve been doing this for the past three years,” Alma shares. “People in my family do it too.”

Now, Alma has added another activity to that list. Last summer, Alma worked as a STEP-UP Achieve intern. She worked with our Sustainability and HealthPartners Specialty Center teams.

Alma’s experience as a STEP-UP Achieve intern

Alma’s internship was through the STEP-UP Achieve youth employment program. It connects Minneapolis youth ages 16-21 with paid internships. Interns are placed at companies, public agencies and nonprofit organizations across 17 industries. “I applied for this internship because I wanted to gain experience in the health care field. It will help me make a career decision in the future,” says Alma, “I was able to help out two teams. And, I was able to shadow an OB-GYN and midwife nurse and a Spanish interpreter. I learned about working in an office with materials I didn’t even know existed.”

After the internship

Alma hopes to attend the nursing program at the University of Minnesota. But her ultimate goal is to be a midwife. “When my brother was born, I saw how he was born and how much my mom and the OB-GYN doctor communicated,” she said.

In her free time, Alma loves spending time with her one-year-old brother and taking pictures together. Alma thinks her little brother is “the cutest baby ever.”

Learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion here.