Students to Shadow Mentors on Groundhog Day

If one thing is certain this Groundhog Day, it is that thousands of Southern California career professionals will see their shadows—their job shadowing students that is.

Beginning February 2, and throughout the next eight weeks, students from across the nation including Los Angeles will spend a day on the job shadowing engineers, insurance agents, bankers, journalists, government officials and other professionals in an attempt to get first-hand experience about the working world.

Job Shadow Day, February 2, 2001, is a nationwide effort to introduce young people to the world of work by giving them an up-close look at the workplace. Job Shadow Day tries to enrich the lives of students through on-the-job experiences and a carefully crafted school curriculum that ties academics to the workplace. In 2000, more than one million young people and 75,000 businesses participated. In 2001 the goal is to increase the number of participants, according to national organizers.

"Local Groundhog Job Shadow activities enable concerned Southern California business people to invest in the future workforce and help young people make the connection between earning and learning," said David Rattray, a spokesperson for School-to-Career in Southern California, which is affiliated with the national School-to-Work Opportunities Initiative. "The opportunity to see first-hand how basic academic skills, such as reading, writing and mathematics are applied in the workplace motivates students to take school work more seriously."

Students from the Academy of Travel and Tourism at Belmont and Fremont high schools will benefit from Groundhog Job Shadow Day by getting an inside look at the hotel industry. The Academy of Travel and Tourism (AOTT), directed and coordinated by the Los Angeles Educational Partnership, is an innovative high school program designed to educate students about the world of travel, tourism, and hospitality through a specialized curriculum and internship program.

On Wednesday, February 7, AOTT students from Belmont High School will spend the day at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel shadowing employees in Guest Services, Catering, Accounting, and many other hotel departments gaining valuable insight to the day-to-day activities at a busy, downtown hotel. The Omni has formed a partnership with AOTT by providing monthly classroom guest speakers, back of the house tours, and summer internships for students.

Other Los Angeles businesses hosting LAEP Career Academy programs will be the New Otani Hotel and Garden, the Marriott Hotel, and City National Bank.

According to organizers, job shadowing enables kids to shadow a workplace mentor as he or she goes through a normal day on the job, providing an up-close look at how the skills learned in school are put into action in the workplace. Participants get a chance to explore various careers beyond what their parents may do for a living. Additionally, the event provides an opportunity for students in at-risk situations to be exposed to various career options they might not have the chance to explore otherwise.

A study by the Kravis Leadership Institute in Southern California shows that students who job shadow are more likely to finish high school and obtain a four-year degree.

"Too many middle and high school students are unable to adequately explore their career options before making life decisions regarding their college major and professional path," Rattray said. "Through the generosity of local employers to open their doors and share their expertise, Groundhog Job Shadow activities provide students with eye-opening experiences that really make a difference in their lives."

In 1997, the first national Job Shadow Day was created by America's Promise, Junior Achievement, School-to-Work, and the American Society of Association Executives to get young people into the workplace to find out what skills and education are needed to make it in today's job market.

This year, major national sponsors have committed both economic support and shadowing opportunities, including Monster.com, National School-to-Work Opportunities Office, Junior Achievement, America's Promise and American Society of Association Executives. Locally, Groundhog Job Shadow Partners include Bank of America, McDonald's, Automobile Club of Southern California, L.A. Internet.com, Unite-LA, L.A. Chamber of Commerce, the Los Angeles Unified School District, KCBS-TV and the Los Angeles Community College District.

	Related Links To become involved in Groundhog Job Shadowing Day, contact Junior Achievement at (323) 957-1818 or visit the Groundhog Job Shadow Web site at www.jobshadow.org.

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