ARLCS students in the high school agriculture program recently partnered with Jacksonville Florist and Gifts to participate in a week-long internship during the busy Valentine’s Day season! Over the course of five days, students stepped beyond the classroom to gain meaningful, hands-on experience in a fast-paced professional environment.
During the internship, students developed essential workplace soft skills, including customer service communication, order processing, phone etiquette, workspace organization, and equipment maintenance. In addition to strengthening employability skills, students received direct instruction from experienced floral designers. They assisted with flower preparation, learned flower identification, and practiced professional arrangement techniques under the guidance of industry experts.
Mrs. Linson, agriculture teacher at ARLCS, stated "Students learn by doing and they cannot be what they cannot see. Part of the true importance of agriculture, of FFA, is the ability to reach out to community to develop skills students simply cannot find within the classroom. A large part of our classes are dedicated to making an impact in our community and letting students explore all the careers available to them where they are. I am thrilled to have such wonderful community partners in all the lovely people at Jacksonville Florist and Gifts. Our students were welcomed and each of the designers was incredibly kind and patient as they instructed students on skills learned over the course of their careers."
This immersive experience provided students with valuable insight into careers in floriculture and allowed them to apply agricultural concepts in a real-world setting. Several students demonstrated exceptional interest and aptitude, and Mrs. Gina of Jacksonville Florist and Gifts has graciously offered to continue mentoring select students through ongoing internship opportunities.
