Job shadowing enlightens Belton HS seniors Posted On: Thursday, Nov. 5 2009 04:51 AM By Matt Goodman
Killeen Daily Herald

Belton-area doctors, police officers, firefighters, hotel managers, pharmacists and other professionals hosted 25 Belton High School seniors at their workplaces Wednesday as part of the Belton Area Chamber of Commerce Job Shadow Day.

So when Judy Garrett, the general manager of LaQuinta Inn in Belton, asked four of the students how their days went at lunch after their tours, the question took on more weight and importance than it normally would.

"This is really eye-opening for some of the students," said Mark Arrazola, event organizer and programs director at the Belton Area Chamber of Commerce.

For most students in the room, the experience gave them a glimpse of what could come. Students interested in psychology sat in on classes at the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor, while others spent the day watching pharmacists juggle prescriptions and mix medications.

"I got to go hands-on and watch the pharmacists deal with customers," Belton High School senior Ashlee Brunaught said. "I was on the fence before, but I want to do it even more now."

Last year Brunaught was interested in psychology and got to sit in on a few classes and decided the field wasn't a good fit. She switched to pharmacy and got an offer to work at where she shadowed this summer.

"It's really good for the students because they get experience hands-on," Arrazola said.

Showing the diversity in interest, senior Brandon Kindla sat in on psychology classes and said his curiosity turn into total interest.

"They didn't judge us in the classroom," he said. "It was comfortable, and I actually learned stuff in that hour I was there."

After returning from the field, the students were treated to lunch and fielded questions about their day from some of the professionals who volunteered to help.

Garrett was one of those professionals.

"I never thought I'd end up in hotels, but I absolutely love it," she told the students. "And you'll have an adventure, too."

Don Owens, chair of the Belton Area Chamber of Commerce Workforce Committee, closed the day by urging the students to foster a relationship with their future universities' career centers.

"As soon as you start your college career, you need to contact the career center," he said. "Our prayer is that you seek a career path that you have a passion for."

Contact Matt Goodman at mgoodman@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7550.