PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - For 100 local high schoolers, summer in the city means an internship at Philadelphia City Hall. The program got underway today with a greeting from the mayor.

The interns embarked on their first taste of government with some words of advice from Mayor Michael Nutter:

“Don’t ever hesitate to ask a question, that’s how you learn,” Nutter told the students.

Among the students taking part is Iryianna Fennel of Edison High School, who will intern with the Law Department.

“It’s a summer program where we work and we get paid,” she said. “But also we learn for the future, because I’m planning on being a law student.”

The program last six weeks, and the students work 20 hours a week.

Justin Smallwood of St. Joe’s Prep will intern for a second summer with the Department of Prisons and plans to make the most of it.

“To talk to people, to be able to learn as much as you can from your experience,” he says.

Good advice, even for adults.

Reported by KYW City Hall bureau chief Mike Dunn