LOUISBURG, N.C.—As students embark on the new school year, Louisburg College is seeking community hosts willing to share their professional expertise through occasional visits from sophomore students, as part of the College’s Great Futures Job Shadowing program.
“Choosing a career path is an important decision for anyone, especially for college students on their way to the ‘real world,’” says program coordinator Marla Peoples. “As many of us know, though, sometimes the way a job appears on the outside is a lot different from the actual work!”
The College’s Great Futures Job Shadowing program allows students early in their college experience to observe professionals in a career field of their interest—students like Kriss Wade of Wallace, N.C.
“This experience has landed me not only an extended opportunity, but confirmation as to what I really want to do in life. My calling is in pediatrics,” Wade says. He shadowed Dr. Louis Allen, pediatrician at the Franklin County Health Department. “The moment I walked into my first experience, I was hooked.”
Students’ activities have included observing their host in action in the workplace, conducting an informational interview with staff members, sitting in on staff or board meetings, touring the facility to meet other professionals in the student’s field of interest, and interacting with clients. Job shadowing experiences range from 8-20 hours over the course of the semester, depending on the flexibility of the host.
“I definitely want to become a vet now,” says Nichole Casto of Goldsboro, N.C. “This experience just lit a fire of desire in me.” Casto shadowed veterinarian Dr. David Fontenot and veterinary assistant Morgan Hamscher at Louisburg Veterinary Clinic. Casto graduated from Louisburg College in May, and this fall she is enrolled at North Carolina State University to pursue her dream of becoming a veterinarian.
Placed at Louisburg Elementary School, Mallory Hammonds from Kannapolis, N.C. found her job shadowing experience to be both informative and inspiring. “Working with the special education teachers really showed me how challenging the field is, but also how rewarding it is to see these children accomplish something new in their lives that many of their peers don’t think they can do.” Hammonds transferred to Appalachian State University, where she will pursue a degree in special education.
First-year program hosts also found the experience to be rewarding. Chris Carter, a physical therapist at Franklin Regional Medical Center, worked with two players from the College’s women’s basketball team, sharing that he “had a blast with both of the young ladies.” School social worker Angela Carbone shared that she would have loved to have had more time for her student to be onsite.
This school year, the program focus will be on opportunities for students earning their Associate’s degree in business; however, the College still hopes to have as many hosts as possible in all career areas.
If you are interested or would just like to learn more, please contact Marla Peoples, Louisburg College’s Great Futures Coach, at mpeoples@louisburg.edu or (919) 497-3333.
About Louisburg College
Related by faith to The United Methodist Church, Louisburg College is the oldest two-year residential college in the nation, and the only one in North Carolina. With a student body of 700 students, over 90 percent of Louisburg graduates continue their education at four-year schools. Learn more at www.louisburg.edu.