Job Shadow Day sheds light on careers

By Mr. Kevin Stabinsky (IMCOM)February 26, 2009

Job Shadow Day sheds light on careers
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Students look at tools used by members of the Directorate of Emergency Service staff. Students from six Atlanta-area high schools and one Atlanta-area middle school were able to interact with professionals from several organizations during a Job Shad... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Job Shadow Day sheds light on careers
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Matthew Byrd (left), a Fort McPherson firefighter and paramedic, describes his job to students from Creekside High School's Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps at Job Shadow Day Feb. 19 at The Commons at Fort McPherson. Byrd and fellow paramedic Ju... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Job Shadow Day sheds light on careers
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Job Shadow Day sheds light on careers
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Daniel Evans, a U.S. Army Garrison Directorate of Emergency Services dog handler, talks with students from Hapeville Charter School about his job. Helping in the presentation was Evan's partner Duke, a 7-year-old German shepherd trained as an ex... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT MCPHERSON, Ga. -- Area students got a chance to look at some of the career possibilities open to them Feb. 19 at the Fort McPherson Job Shadow Day.

The event, which took place at The Commons at Fort McPherson, allowed 287 students from six Atlanta-area high schools and one Atlanta-area middle school to interact with professionals from several area organizations.

U.S. Army garrison organizations participating included Army Community Service, the Child Development Center, Community Outreach, the Directorate of Emergency Service, the Directorate of Information Management, the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, the Wellness Center and the Public Affairs Office.

Also participating were the Lawrence Joel Army Dental Clinic; the Hapeville Police Department; and global engineering, construction and services company Kellogg Brown and Root, which supports most of the military overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The goal of Job Shadow Day is to help students make the critical link between education and success on the job, introduce students to careers in the workplace and connect learning and earning," said Camellia Jefferson, garrison school liaison officer.

For the students, it was a chance to re-evaluate their career interests and consider options they may never have thought of.

Dexter Barnes, a senior at South Atlanta High School, said he was interested in engineering, but was unsure if studying that field would prevent him from enjoying other interests, such as fixing things and traveling. After listening to the presentation by KBR, he said he realized he could continue to pursue his career desire without sacrificing his other interests.

For 10th grader Mena Johnson, also from South Atlanta High School, the day showed her a totally different possibility.

"I wanted to do obstetrics, gynecology," she said, explaining her inspiration stemmed from time spent following a midwife. Johnson said being introduced to videography at the event interested her and got her thinking of a future in that profession.

Jefferson attributed much of the learning to the professionalism and expertise of the representatives of the organizations participating.

"They mixed and mingled with the kids, explained their jobs and were willing to listen and answer questions," she said.

Job Shadow Day is one of many programs made possible by the partnership agreement between Fort McPherson and the local communities to help enhance and improve quality of life for residents in both areas. Other programs include career fairs and school mentoring.

"We're helping introduce students to careers and providing them a comprehensive view of options available," Jefferson said. "The kids had a wonderful time."