Instead of tracking whether there will be six more weeks of winter, a group of local high school students spent their Groundhog Day shadowing jobs in potential career fields.
Thomas County Central High School’s second annual Groundhog Job Shadow Day was held Thursday, Feb. 2. Organizers said the event was “a huge success.” Nineteen students participated, and three returned to school with job offers.
“All the students come back with smiles and stories to tell about how much they enjoyed their experience,” TCCHS Work-Based Learning Coordinator Michelle Ausley said. “They are so thankful for having the opportunity to experience their career of interest.”
Student participants were: Ansley Alligood, Brendan Brock, Dontonio Daniel, William Daniel, Joey Dennard, Joshua Fussell, Hailey Garmon, Victor Gonzalez, Jarred Howell, Melinda Hurst, Hailie Hutchison, Branden Kelley, Irvin Moore, Sanny Patel, Brian Smith, Auh'Daizah Turner, Brittney Watson and Natalie Wyatt.
Key professions represented included accounting, automotive technician, child care, criminal justice, construction, emergency response, fabrication, human resources, landscaping, marketing, office management, psychology, real estate sales and veterinary medicine.
“This job shadow day program was a great experience,” senior Dontonio Daniel said. “It proved to me that I chose the right skills for me. I'm looking forward to a bright future.”
Daniel shadowed at CCH Construction Inc. Project Manager Austin Stone said the company appreciated the opportunity to assist a high school student “in deciding his future career path.”
“We hope that Dontonio left today with a thorough understanding of a day in the construction industry and the best wishes in his future endeavors,” Stone said.
Other business/industry participants were: American Signature, C & S Machine Company, Clanton Malphus Veterinary Hospital, Flowers Foods, Glad Tidings Academy, Heritage Foundation, KeySouth Real Estate Group, Lanigan & Associates, P.C., New Hire Solutions, Stony Creek Landscaping, Thomas County EMS, Thomasville Police Department, Thomasville Toyota, and Thomasville YCMA. Additional business volunteer participants were Thomas County Fire/Rescue and Vereen Rehabilitation Center Sports Medicine.
“The TCCHS job shadow program is an extraordinary opportunity for local businesses to offer a real work experience to young students on the brink of their career discussions,” Allison Bass, of Lanigan & Associates, P.C., said. “We greatly valued the experience and look forward to continued participation with the program.”
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Auh'Daizah Turner, who shadowed at the site, said she “had an amazing time.”
“I didn't only get the feel of the business world but also the feeling of being an accountant, my passion and dream job,” she said. “It was an exciting day for me."
Senior Hailie Hutchison, who shadowed Thomasville Police Department Officer Olivia Jones, said the experience is one she “will not forget.”
“I learned quite a lot about being a Thomasville police officer,” she said. “I learned you have to have confidence, patience, perseverance, and be ready for anything that life might throw at you to be one of Thomasville's finest.”
Some student participants said the experience taught them about skills they need to improve. For example, junior Brian Smith said he learned “a lot about working with others on so many levels” and that communication skills are “one of the things I really need to sharpen up on.” He “had a great experience.”
“This opportunity is a great eye-opener for high school students to get a glimpse of the professional world,” New Hire Solutions Senior Placement Specialist Kathryn Aguilera said.
Ausley thanked all the hosts who participated for “taking the time to share your expertise.”
“One of the primary goals of this program is to provide opportunities for our students to learn more about careers by experiencing actual work situations,” she said. “Your commitment to helping our students make career decisions is greatly appreciated. This opportunity of a lifetime could not have happened without you.”
Junior Sanny Patel said the day is “a great experience” and he “enjoyed every minute of it.”
“I got to experience what it is actually like to work in a big corporation like Flowers Bakery,” he said. “This experience is great for anyone just wanting to learn about a job before they further pursue it. I will use this in the future to help me decide what I want to major and minor in when I am in college.”