Kadena students gain career insight on Job Shadow Day

  • Published
  • By Yukino Nagai
  • Kadena High School senior
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  For the first time in three years, students of Kadena High School participated in Job Shadow Day here Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

Job Shadow Day gave the students an opportunity to "shadow" someone in their desired career field to learn more about the work involved with the career.

According to Karen Robertson, senior counselor and the point of contact of the high school for Job Shadow Day, 57 sophomores, juniors and seniors went to 23 job sites. The day was designed to help students gain an understanding of the job field. "I wanted the day to help students with their career decisions as well as their choice of coursework to lead up to the career," said Robertson.

Tech. Sgt. Robert Braaten of the 18 Civil Engineer Squadron, who was shadowed by students interested in engineering, took something away from the event as well. He said, although the civil engineer squadron, as a whole, works closely together, watching presentations by other parts of the squadron taught him things about the department that he never knew.

Those who shadowed sergeant Braaten were introduced to members of the many departments within 18 CES, such as land surveying, electricity, power generation, Explosive Ordanance Disposal and the fire department. They rode in a 55 foot bucket truck and tried on fire suits.

Students were assigned at job locations spanning across the whole base. Junior, Stephanie Mobley, spent her day at the Health and Wellness Center, where she said she gained "more of an insight on exercise and sports science."

According to sophomore Danielle Johnson, Job Shadow Day "helped me better understand the career field I'm interested in."