When it comes to jobs for high school students, most teens either flip burgers  at McDonalds, or work the cash register at Publix. But one Nation Ford student is getting real world experience working at US Prep Athletes.

   Senior Jori Benton is an intern at US Prep Athletes. While it’s not a paid position, the experience will help her in the future.

   US Prep Athletes is a magazine publication located in Charlotte, NC. They cover high school sports, athletes, and the local community.

   US Prep Athletes started tournament camps for basketball in 2012, but they didn’t launched their first issue of the magazine until February 2014.

   Now US Prep Athletes feature community leaders, and athletes who just finished their college careers and are now starting in the work force.

   They make tournament guides for other organizations such as Charlotte Hoops Challenge, and United States Basketball Association. US Prep Athletes plans to cover all sports in the future.

   Benton started working at US Prep Athletes around midsummer as a freelance writer.

   “I go and I interview athletes sometimes, and I will write micro stories, or I’ll do feature stories, or I’ll write something about one of the athletes at my school,” Benton said.

   Benton says it’s really fun working there and really chill. But because sports are constantly changing, she always has to keep up with it and learn the game.

   Benton wants to be a sports journalist or a reporter for ESPN. “Working with a magazine where I really have to focus on sports is going to help me in the future with just knowing what to do.”

   Publisher, Mr. Tony Pearl, learned Benton writes for The Talon newspaper at Nation Ford, and he asked her to submit a writing sample because he had an opening for an internship.

   The main goal of US Prep Athletes is to feature athletes but to show that there is more to them than just sports. Benton has the skill to do that.

   “Jori’s writing skills are great, and she has a unique style… When I see her writing, I can see all the potential and everything she wants to say. And I see the passion,” Mr. Pearl said.

   Benton was a Special Contributor on an article about US Prep Elite Basketball Camp held on Oct. 16.

   Mr. Pearl’s main goal for the interns is to help them develop a voice for writing. He tells them to treat the page like a blank canvas.

   Mr. Pearl wants the interns to go above and beyond. He doesn’t want a story just about stats, he says. He wants the interns to explore the background of athletes and show their personalities.

The interns build upon their micro stories to then write a full-length article.

Benton said that at US Prep Athletes, they aren’t just writing stories. They get to do some videographing, and work on a radio talk show.

But Benton has a job that she really enjoys because she’s doing what she wants to do in the future.

“I like sports writing because I am an athlete, and it’s the career I want to have in the future,” Benton said.