Job Shadow
Day: Eighth graders explore future career options
On
the Morning of April 7th, more than 150 local businesses around
the Upper Valley opened their doors to local students visiting
for Job Shadow Day, an annual program facilitated by The Upper
Valley Business and Education Partnership (UVBEP) in conjunction
with thirteen local schools. Upwards of 700 eighth graders from
over twenty towns were given a taste of the daily operations of
a local business, helping them make the connection between the
classroom and the future.
Since 2000, UVBEP has orchestrated Job Shadow Day, and each year
the list of businesses willing to host, and schools wishing to
participate, grows longer. What’s even more encouraging,
each year the list of businesses hosting for consecutive years,
whether it be their second, third, or tenth Job Shadow Day, grows
longer as well.
The purpose of Job Shadow Day is to make the real world application
of classroom learning more tangible, and to expose students to
future career options just before they embark on their high school
academic path. For a thirteen year old, relating the books in
English class, or the equations in chemistry to the future can
be difficult. As Job Shadow host Charles Barrett, the principal
at Bradford Elementary School, notes, “they are looking
for real life links to their life as middle school students and
this experience provided a vital connection for them.”
Nancy
Russell, a Job Shadow host from NH Legal Assistance in Claremont,
considers hosting students a responsibility of the community,
one that the Upper Valley seems to be taking quite seriously considering
the high level of participation. “They are the future, plain
and simple. It is up to us as adults to provide opportunities
and role models they can emulate to build stronger communities,
and in turn, stronger societies. You can certainly count on me
for future participation.”
Whether visiting a veterinary clinic, mechanic shop, art museum,
or biomedical lab, students appreciate the opportunity to get
a glimpse at a job they may be interested in pursuing. “I
really enjoyed spending my day at DCCCC,” reported an eighth
grade student from Hartford Memorial Middle School who visited
the Dartmouth College Child Care Center, “It gave me a lot
to think about for a career in my future.” A student from
South Royalton, who visited Sharon Health Center said of her visit,
“I would definitely consider a career here. It’s what
I want to do.”
On
the Morning of April 7th, more than 150 local businesses around
the Upper Valley opened their doors to local students visiting
for Job Shadow Day, an annual program facilitated by The Upper
Valley Business and Education Partnership (UVBEP) in conjunction
with thirteen local schools. Upwards of 700 eighth graders from
over twenty towns were given a taste of the daily operations of
a local business, helping them make the connection between the
classroom and the future. 
Nancy
Russell, a Job Shadow host from NH Legal Assistance in Claremont,
considers hosting students a responsibility of the community,
one that the Upper Valley seems to be taking quite seriously considering
the high level of participation. “They are the future, plain
and simple. It is up to us as adults to provide opportunities
and role models they can emulate to build stronger communities,
and in turn, stronger societies. You can certainly count on me
for future participation.” 