Job-Shadowing a 'Pathway' for Students Future

Senior Amanda Biele learned how to create the scene of an accident yesterday. Junior Aly Smialowicz learned how to teach different methods of multiplication to elementary aged students. Sophomore Casey Aceto learned how to size lots.

in conjunction with the Forked River Rotary Club held their annual job-shadowing program on Tuesday, Feb. 14.

“It gives them the opportunity to see what they like,” Interact Club Advisor Bunny McGauley said. “It kind of gives them a pathway for what they want to do.”

Approximately 38 students participated in this year’s program. The students ranged from ninth to twelvth grade and followed Rotarian members around during their jobs, said Kevin Donahue, a counselor at the high school and coordinator for the program.

Occupations included forensics, police, construction, schools, businesses and more, he said.

“It was really cool,” Biele said. “It was fun to learn about forensic engineering.”

When Biele graduates, she plans to do something in the area of science with an interest in recreating accident scenes, she said.

Biele had the opportunity to visit a forensic engineering home office where she learned the different types of engineering, what forensic engineers actually do, what the Rotarian did in college and what courses she would need to take, she said.

Smialowicz learned that she would prefer to teach at the high school level rather than elementary school, which Principal William Zylinski said is a big decision.

“I’m glad I did it,” she said.

“It’s a good annual program,” Zylinski said. “Linking students to prominent community members is the key to the puzzle.”

The program enables students to see professionals at work and could be an eye-opening experience, he said.

“It’s also good for community members to see the students,” he said.

Jay Pierson of East Coast Engineering has been involved in the program since it first started more than 15 years ago.

“I do it to help give children insight into civil engineering and land surveying, to help make a choice in their future,” he said.