Northbridge HS junior Timothy Harris, Asst. Dir. Brett MacGowan at Whitin Community Center

Northbridge High School junior Tim Harris wants to work in social services, so he spent January 31, Groundhog Job Shadow Day, learning the many sides of running the Whitin Community Center from Assistant Director Brett MacGowan. Harris and MacGowan worked on maintenance of the swimming pool operation, where Harris got to see the complexities involved in running a 155,000-gallon pool. They also spent time at the Center's Rockdale Youth Center, started preparing brochures for summer camps, and worked on vending services. "I'm trying to give Tim a little taste of everything," said MacGowan.

Harris' classmate Rebecca Lange was interested in seeing what she could do with strong math skills, so she worked with UniBank Operations Manager Jane Archibald to transfer electronic information, payroll and tax payments for bank customers.

Lange said the experience "really opened her eyes" to the business of banking. Archibald commented, "I think job shadowing is a great program. Kids tend to see only the visible services: police, firefighting, etc. This gives them a broader view of what they can do with their skills."

Northbridge HS junior Rebecca Lange, UniBank Operations Manager Jane Archibald

A recent survey released by Junior Achievement (JA) indicates that American middle and high school students have unrealistic views of their future careers. Job shadowing is increasingly important for students because it acquaints them with the world of work through on-the-job experiences and a carefully crafted school curriculum that ties academics to the workplace throughout the year. In fact, according to the poll, one-third of students learned about career choices from job shadowing.

Job shadow day is an important part of the school-to-career program coordinated by the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation. National Groundhog Job Shadow Day is a coordinated effort of America's Promise, Junior Achievement, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Department of Education. Monster is the national sponsor of the initiative and News Corporation is a primary co-sponsor.

Northbridge HS junior Ben Guilfoil cruises with patrolman Picard from Northbridge P.D.

UniBank's Marketing Coordinator Charlene Leith introduced two Millbury High School seniors, Haley Mearian and Emily Mulhane, to the multifaceted world of marketing. Northbridge junior Tiffany Guillaume, who enjoys accounting and math, learned about banking at the Whitinsville branch of Fleet. Northbridge juniors Sarah Desmarais and Leann Fletcher shadowed Beth Desmarais in the pension office at Northbridge Town Hall, seeing how the administration of a pension plan with 200 members and 100 retirees is run. Northbridge junior Ben Guilfoil spent the day on duty with the Northbridge Police Department.

Millbury senior Kayleigh Brigham observed surgery and general veterinary care with Dr. Jill Hopfenbeck at Sutton Animal Hospital. According to Hopfenbeck, "She's seen a lot more urine than she expected." Although Brigham is an animal lover with lots of experience with dogs and guinea pigs, she hadn't really considered previously all the corporeal aspects of veterinary care.

These are just some of the 110 students from Northbridge, Millbury and Douglas High School who explored careers on Groundhog Job Shadow Day. Other area schools have similar job shadow days at different times during the year.

Millbury HS senior Kayleigh Brigham, Veterinary Technician Sue Usher, Dr. Jill Hopfenbeck, and Max - 8 month-old Great Dane (about to be neutered) at Sutton Animal Hospital

Lampin Corporation President and Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation President Scott Rossiter, who hosted Millbury senior Pat Hubley at his Uxbridge manufacturing facility, hopes even more employers will get involved next year. He said, "What most people don't realize about job shadow day is that it's just as much fun for the host as it is for the student."