Local high school students experience working world first hand
LAUREN NARDELLA
Instead of a groundhog seeing its shadow, high school juniors and seniors got to be the shadows Monday at companies throughout Savannah.
Students shed their school uniforms for suit jackets, ties and high heels as they followed local businesspeople and learned about different professions as part of Groundhog Job Shadow Day.
"The way (lawyers) do their work is so interesting," said Shaniqua Purvis, who wants to pursue a career in law.
"I used to read a lot of John Grisham," she said.
Purvis and Briana Smalls, both juniors at Groves High School, shadowed Senior Network Technician Sean McCarthy at the Chatham County Courthouse.
McCarthy showed them the technical side of the courthouse, taking them through the server room and computer training facilities.
"If we don't do our jobs, they can't do their jobs down there," McCarthy said, referring to the connection between technology and the courthouse and county employees.
Purvis and Smalls also learned about the records room from Julie Walet, a data entry clerk, and got the inside scoop on the legal system from Chatham County Superior Court Judge Perry Brannen Jr.
"Everybody blames the judge," Brannen said jokingly.
McCarthy has enjoyed hosting high school students as job shadows for the past four years.
"It lets them see what opportunities are available," he said.
Job Shadow Day was sponsored by Junior Achievement of Georgia. Approximately 80 local businesses and 300 students participated. Other job shadow days are scheduled throughout the year.
"It's to introduce high school students to the real world of work," said Leslie Scott, senior manager of education for Junior Achievement. "It gives them a window into what that entails.
"It's also about learning the basics of what professionalism is. Showing up on time, knowing the right questions to ask, all of these basic business skills are emphasized."
Kay Green, a senior at Jenkins High School, is interested in a career in forensic psychiatry.
"I've always liked helping people," she said. She was paired with court reporter Cynthia Tanner, who helped her understand how the legal system works.
Green's future plans include attending Armstrong Atlantic State University and then medical school. In the short term, "I'd stay here all day if I could," she said.
"It's fun for us, too," said Maria Sayers, a Superior Court staff attorney and one of the job shadow organizers. "It's a good opportunity for students to get to see behind the scenes of what goes on in the courthouse."
Ashton Gibbs and Shamecca Bryant, both seniors at Beach High School, enjoyed sitting in on civil court proceedings.
Bryant is interested in being a forensic science medical examiner, and Gibbs wants to go into law enforcement.
"I want to make it easier to solve cases, to help find the murderer or cause of death," Bryant said.
Letta Sneed, a staff attorney to Chatham Superior Court Judge Louisa Abbot, showed Desmand Washington and Sharquandra Hopkins around the courthouse.
Washington, a junior at Effingham High School, wants to go into criminal justice and possibly the FBI. He said he was surprised how busy the courthouse was.
Hopkins has been interested in law since she was young. She said her mom used to work at the courthouse and would take her along. Hopkins was fascinated by the appeals they saw in court.
"No one wanted to go to trial, they kept taking pleas," said the Jenkins High School junior.