Shadowing Program Gives Career-Minded Students A Front Row Seat

By Tanjua Damon

Although Governor John Rowland proclaimed the last week of January as School-to-Career Week and February 2 as Job Shadow Day, juniors and seniors at Newtown High School have the opportunity to shadow professionals in the community twice a year.

Jane McEvoy, director of the Career Center at NHS, has been making arrangements for at least 30 students a semester to shadow professionals in various career fields, including lawyers, doctors, teachers, and communications workers.

“That’s what we love about this program, is the community connection between the students and the professional community involvement,” Mrs McEvoy said. “It helps them see the point of their education. When you get outside of something, you see the ‘real world’ out there. You come back with a renewed interest and energy.”

Students are not just able to sign up for the shadowing program, they have to apply and fill out a goal sheet that tells what they want to learn and what they may want to do in the future. The matching up takes time, but for most students it is an excellent opportunity to see a career before actually entering the workforce.

“The kids are so thrilled with the one-on-one attention. They can’t believe someone is willing to spend that much time with them,” Mrs McEvoy said. “I’ve just seen kids get so excited and enthusiastic. It’s very rewarding being able to help students figure out what they want to do. We want them to start thinking about it and exploring.”

Senior Laura Willing plans to be an elementary school teacher and was able to shadow her favorite teacher from Head O’ Meadow, Mrs Woodies, in order to see if teaching is the career for her.

“It was excellent. I got to sit in her classroom and interact with the students,” Laura said. “She sat down with me and talked about the expectations of teachers. It made me realize it is something I want to do.”

Mrs Woodies provided Laura with an opportunity to understand the career of teaching and how the job brings gratification, especially when former students come back and tell how your teaching affected their lives.

“Organization is the key. Going with the flow, not being so structured. You learn throughout the years what things work and what things don’t,” Laura said. “I would love to be able to impact my students like Mrs Woodies does. I want to do this career because of how she taught me.”

Andrew Rote has been shadowing various professionals in the journalism realm. He has been working with different print journalist, but most recently he was able to shadow at ESPN with associate producer Shawn Fitzgerald.

“I went to ESPN and met someone who worked in the screening room, like production,” Andrew said. “They pull the things together that they would show on Sports Center.”

Journalism has been a passion for Andrew since the fifth grade when he attended Sandy Hook and was approached by Cathy Mazzariello, now assistant principal, who heads the Footprint Post, the school newspaper. Andrew wrote an article that made its way to the front page.

“Since the fifth grade I’ve always wanted to be in journalism,” Andrew said. “The best teacher I ever had was Mrs Mazzariello. She made me write an article and she put it on the front.”

Andrew, a junior, has been shadowing to see what area of journalism best suits him. He admits that meeting ESPN anchor Dan Patrick and being able to sit in the control room was great. Andrew said he wants a job that is fun and not like work at all.

Senior Eme Walker truly wants to be a singer, but knows that the business is not an easy one. So she plans to major in journalism and minor in singing. Eme too has shadowed and worked in print journalism, but she has also shadowed at Meadow Music with the Jim Bozzi, the director of marketing.

“I like journalism, but I like the entertainment aspect of it,” Eme said. “My motto is if you can’t be a star, I want to interview them. I want to be a musician, but I also want to learn the background.”

Eme has been in the presence of famous stars like Christina Auguilera, but shadowing professionals is a way for her to make connections for the future when she is part of the working world.

“I learned a lot. But also, for me, it’s networking to get my name out there,” she said. “Meeting different people. I know it sounds selfish, but it’s networking.”

For some students shadowing is an opportunity to see what a professional’s day is like in an area that they are already experiencing. Junior Brian Budnick does the play-by-plays for the basketball games at the high school. He shadowed with Bob Picozzi at Gampel Pavilion where the UConn Huskies play.

“I thought it would be a good experience and that it coupled with what I do,” he said. “It fell into my lap. Just the fact that I already do it, it definitely makes it a career option.”

Brian was able to see what a typical day is like for a play-by-play sportscaster. He also gained college information about what classes to take and what organizations he can become a part of to add to his experiences.

“The way I saw him prepare for the game, production meeting, personal dialogue with him before the game was helpful,” Brian said. “He pushed more than anything to keep a serious attitude and keep yourself devoted to it.”

Paul Krasowski, a senior, wanted to see the law enforcement career so he shadowed Newtown Police Officer Jason Frank. He spent an eight-hour shift in the snow with Officer Frank.

“Originally I had always had an interest in being a police officer,” Paul said. “Everyone always says Newtown Police don’t have much work. I saw that’s not true. There’s always something for them to do. I didn’t realize the amount of paperwork.”

Paul said he will study business in college with a minor in criminology or sociology so that if a career in law enforcement does not work out, he will have something to fall back on.

“I just learned the ropes of being a police officer,” Paul said. “I was really interested in it. I get bored easily. [In law enforcement] you’re going to encounter different things. I need change.”

Job shadowing is open to all juniors and seniors. They must apply at the Career Center at the high school.