SBYSP @ Kearny High School is a proud participant in Job Shadowing 2004, a nationwide mentoring initiative that pairs students with professionals in the workplace. Job Shadowing, or Groundhog Job Shadow Day, will begin on February 2, 2003 for most, but at Kearny High School, it began on October 7, 2003.
Job Shadowing is unique in its approach to career mentoring. Its focus is on providing students with academically motivating activities that demonstrate how the skills they learn in school relate to the workplace. It provides the answers to students’ question “why do I have to learn this?"
According to the U.S. Department of Education, most of the 25 fastest-growing careers over the next ten years will be in the high tech and healthcare industries. Health care professionals, such as nurses, pharmacists and speech pathologists, will be in even more demand as Baby Boomers retire from the healthcare industry and their healthcare needs increase.
On October 7, 2003, 12 students, accompanied by Adele Higgins, Employment Specialist at School Based Youth Services Program @ KHS, job shadowed in the medical field at Clara Maass Medical Center. Sarah Laranjeiro, Andria Alvarez, Jennifer McKerry, Vanessa Robaina, Charlene Nobleza, Meghan Rafferty, Michelle Souso, Evelyn Fabian, and Zakia Lauriano shadowed nurses in several departments of the hospital including the emergency room and pediatrics. Karen Piwowar had the opportunity to shadow in the physical therapy department, and Gabriel Roca and Jackie Rodeira were the doctor’s of the day. Gabriel and Jackie were fortunate to observe two “eye” surgeries performed by Dr. Patrick Higgins, Retina Surgeon for Retinal Associates of NJ, in Belleville, NJ, and Dr. Andrea Harper, who has her own Ophthalmology practice in Kearny, NJ. They dressed in scrubs and were in the operating room with the doctors. They were brought into the doctor’s lounge between operations for snacks and discussion. Education requirements, advice for premed students, and the life of a physician were the topics of the morning.
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Dr. Andrea A. Harper, M.D. (2nd from left) and Dr. Patrick Higgins, M.D. (2nd from right) team up with KHS 12th graders Gabriel Roca (l) and Jackie Rodeira for the School Based Youth Services Job Shadowing Day. Ms. Adele Higgins, (center), SBYS Employment Specialist, coordinated the program. |
The day began at 9 a.m. in the Belleville Foundry Room. Students were given breakfast and their schedule for the day. Various phases of medicine were discussed and they were off to their assignments. They shadowed until 12:45 in the emergency room, pediatrics, oncology, and physical therapy departments. They returned for lunch in the Belleville’s Founders Room at the hospital and for discussion about their experience. Students left the hospital at 2 p.m. –most enthused about the medical field.
The SBYS Program @ Kearny High School sponsored this job shadowing experience. School Based, under the direction of Jeannie MacConchie, provides youngsters ages 13-19 with comprehensive services at the Teen Center located in Kearny High School. These services include individual and family counseling, healthcare, substance abuse counseling, family life counseling, tutoring, outings, employment counseling, and referrals to other agencies.