This article describes a summer internship program at South Houston High School which utilizes an innovative curriculum to teach students 21st century skills alongside core academics. Using the Transitions career education curriculum--a comprehensive curriculum created by ASCL Educational Services to fulfill Chicago Public Schools' need for soft skills development--students learned the necessary soft skills to be successful in a career, and reinforced them in a simulated workplace which provided authentic and relevant learning. The program encompassed about 96 hours of job-skill training and construction activity. Students were selected through a hiring process, which included a basic application, group interview, attendance and discipline records, as well as letters of recommendation. Construction experience was not a prerequisite for acceptance; in fact, among the 14 girls and 11 boys in the program only one, the shop assistant, had any prior experience. A $600 stipend was provided to all students who completed the four-week program. Students worked six hours a day, four days a week. This authentic applied learning experience allowed students to incorporate academics in a real-world workplace scenario.