Students gain experience during job shadowing

Published 12:04 am Friday, March 31, 2017

Following the tradition of Groundhog Day, sophomores at Dalton High School spent Feb. 2 job “shadowing” professionals in the community and learning more about prospective job interests.

The employers that participated ranged from Dalton Public Schools’ own schools to dental offices to nonprofit organizations to law offices and more. Students were able to choose where they spent the day and coordinated the day themselves, with the help of Work-Based Learning Coordinator Larry Tripp.

“Groundhog Job Shadow Day provides Dalton High sophomores with a valuable opportunity to experience careers firsthand,” he said. “Students have the opportunity to network with professionals and learn about preparation and requirements for jobs that they are interested in. Groundhog Job Shadow Day has been a longstanding, valuable tradition at Dalton High as we continually seek to provide meaningful and engaging opportunities for students.”

For sophomore Sadie Cowan, an aspiring biologist, the day spent at Dalton Animal Care South provided a beneficial, hands-on experience. Watching a dog be neutered and witnessing a cat’s eye surgery would scare some away, but Cowan said the day only affirmed her goal of eventually becoming a veterinarian.

Sophomore James Rogers took the opportunity to spend the day with his father Jimmy Rogers, learning the business side of the turf industry at Controlled Products. In a company that supplies cutting-edge turf technology for fields of all kinds, shapes, sizes and colors, the opportunities available include careers using business, trigonometry, marketing, finance, chemistry and more.

James said he was eager to get the chance to see what his father did and learn more about the daily business operations of the company. Jimmy walked James through the plant and described the innovative techniques that keep Controlled Products ahead of their competitors. He also went more in-depth about the skills needed to be a successful employee.

“I never realized so much went into the production of turf, but it’s really fascinating,” James said. “I think I would be interested in going into the business and learning how to be a successful salesman.”