San Diego Job Corps Students Participate in Groundhog Job Shadow Day 2011

“Spending the day working at the South Bay Unified School District was a valuable experience for me,” stated Ariel Beamon, a student at San Diego Job Corps, enrolled in the Office Administration Career Technical Training course. “Dr. Parish and her staff were friendly and well-organized, and I had the opportunity to use some of the skills I’m learning on center. I was especially interested in the fiscal planning part of her work and would like to pursue a career in this field,” she added.

Each year San Diego Job Corps’ students and staff participate in the national Groundhog Job Shadow Day initiative designed to engage students in “real life” work settings. Students shadow workplace mentors and gain firsthand experience on how the skills they learn in the classroom are used in the workplace. It’s an excellent opportunity to expose young people to new and exciting careers while partnering with employers and other organizations.

A number of students “shadowed” Job Corps staff members throughout the week, while others interned with employers. Homeland Security cadets took part in a presentation at the Chula Vista Police Department and toured the UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest. Others visited and worked at the Turning the Hearts Center, Labor Ready, and the City of San Diego’s Gang Prevention and Intervention office.

“I had a limited knowledge of city council before last week,” stated Paula Vargas, a 21 year old Office Administration student. “I was able to visit several council offices and even had a chance to meet City Councilmember Tony Young.” Paula later wrote a “thank you” letter to her hosts, expressing her appreciation for their kindness. “Now I know I deserve a better future and can visualize myself working in a place like yours.”

“We appreciate staff members and workplace mentors taking time each year to work with our students,” stated Melina Williams, Job Corps’ Social Development Director, who was the coordinator for the activities. “Our students are always enthusiastic about their experiences, and realize the wonderful opportunities available to them when they graduate from our program.”