I will be looking for an internship this summer/next summer. This summer I will be a junior. I live in the LA/Orange County area and am looking for an internship in fashion, finance, management, or a nonprofit organization. I do not want an internship where I am interning 5 days a week for 8-10 hours a day unpaid for all of summer. I do not want an internship that badly to do that.
Have you also looked into summer volunteer opportunities? Nonprofits often look for help – I’m not sure you’ll have much luck finding a volunteer opportunity (let alone internship) in fashion, finance, or management until you have some college under your belt. As for pay, sometimes an unpaid position can pave the way to a paid position, even with a different company or organization. Resume building is always a good thing, even at your age. You will make yourself more marketable to prospective universities and potentially to employers.
Here’s a list of nonprofits in the LA area:
http://greatnonprofits.org/city/los-angeles/CA
I would give them a call or email introducing yourself, sharing any relevant work experience or classes taken, and expressing your interest in interning or volunteering over the summer.
Good luck!
PS: You would likely not be working 40 hour weeks anywhere – there are labor laws that apply to minors, even over the summer.