I read the applications for Springbreak in the Marketplace, a program designed to expose our 6th-12th grade students to a variety of career options and mentors, with great delight. One student ordered his career preferences this way:
- DJ
- Doctor
He reasoned in his explanation that if it didn’t work out to be a DJ he could fall back on being a physician.
Another student who will participate in his third SIMP week wrote his number one choice would be to be a Car Dealer. It’s not a common career choice for our students, but this student did shadow Nelson Andrews of Andrews Cadillac two years ago. Another veteran SIMP participant indicated her career preference is to “work in a church” (like Ann Chassereau who just happened to be her mentor last year). A SIMP veteran of six years indicated his desire to work in Real Estate (he has been with residential agents, commercial agents, and two years ago with Joe Pat McGuigan, a real estate appraiser–pictured above right). Another student wants a career in legislation (she has shadowed Antoinette Lee and Kathleen Murphy). The theme of our veteran SIMP students is that they have experienced a person, or a setting, that is shaping their career dreams. What a powerful thought that a few hours with a mentor can shape a child’s sense of calling and future.
PTM’s Springbreak in the Marketplace will take place on April 3rd-5th and we still have room for a few more mentors. If interested in helping to shape a student’s life, and you have 3-4 hours for a student to shadow you on one of these days, please let me know at cgsheppard@earthlink.net. More information is available at http://www.ptmweb.ik.org/p_Spring_Break_in_the_Marketplace.ikml.