Job Shadow Program Offers Unique Opportunities

SKANEATELES, NY (October 10, 2017) – Last week, Skaneateles High School Juniors were introduced to the district’s Job Shadowing Program, which provides students an opportunity to meet, connect with, and shadow different members of the community to increase career awareness.

 

Part of the introduction included a student assembly, coordinated by Job Shadowing Director Lori Ruhlman, featuring a dozen Skaneateles High School seniors who had previously participated in the program, as well as Skaneateles Central School District Superintendent, Ken Slentz.

 

“Take the risk to try everything.  Learn what you like and what you really don’t like,” Slentz told students.  “Take the risk to learn.”

 

In under five minutes, Slentz took students through his 30-year journey, which included several different career paths.  Slentz considered careers in landscape architecture, law, and political science before finding his passion in education.

 

“Since 2002, I have yet to go to work,” said Slentz.  “I love what I do and it wouldn’t have happened if I took a linear path.  I took risks.”

 

Joining Slentz in the Job Shadowing presentation were Seniors Tyler Atwater, Natalie Condon, Madison Dubach, Brady Isles, Will Johnson, James Leubner, Nieve Morse, Zoe Osborne, Luke Rathgeb, Sierra Sander, and Liz Williams. 

 

Each student presented their personal experiences in the Job Shadowing Program which included internships, camps, field trips, and in-school sessions with professionals.

 

Atwater, who used the Job Shadowing Program to land a job as a voice actor, says it takes effort to achieve your goals.

 

“If there’s anything I can tell you, it’s that you aren’t going to make your dreams come true by just sitting around and expecting people to notice that you’re great,” said Atwater.  “It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and sometimes you’ll want to give up.  You have to be prepared to fail, in order to succeed.”

 

Williams shadowed in healthcare with the goal of one day being a Physician Assistant. 

The Job Shadowing Program helped Williams realize what she does want to do, and what she does not want to do after having shadowed an integrative medicine practitioner, an anesthesiologist, and a physician assistant.

 

“The shadowing experiences you think aren’t helpful, are the most helpful,” said Williams.  “The best thing you can do at this point in your life is to explore what you want to do.”

 

The Job Shadowing Program is always interested in bringing in new members of the community to be shadowed.  If you are interested in having a student shadow you, or coming into school to talk to students with interests in your career, please contact Lori Ruhlman at lruhlman@skanschools.org.

 

For more general information on the Job Shadowing Program please also contact Mrs. Ruhlman or the Skaneateles High School Counseling Center.

 

District residents are reminded that Project 2021, the district’s proposed capital improvement project, will be up for vote on Tuesday, November 14.  A full listing of Project 2021 details are listed under the Project 2021 quick link at www.skanschools.org.  More information will be out on the pending project in the coming weeks.

Keep in touch with events and happenings in relation to the Skaneateles Central School District by visiting online at www.skanschools.org or following the district’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Skaneateles.Schools.