Some of you may recall that I worked with a high school student. He 'shadowed' me for 10 weeks, hoping to get exposed to the engineering profession. Despite the expected academic deficiencies, his enthusiasm exceeded expectations.
He delivered a final project that was value-added for our department. On most days he was punctual, and seemed to genuinely enjoy the experience.
I also made every effort to curb the foul language. However, in my line of work, it is inevitable, that a word or two will slip. He was given a tour of our clay model design studios, Vehicle Proving Grounds, and Assembly plants
Because it is customary for interns to participate in an exit interview, I asked him to setup a short meeting with our Department Manager. Our manager was pleased with his contribution, and his ability to adapt to the new environment.
To my surprise, when he was asked if he still wanted to become an engineer. He responded, "I would like to pursue a career in Drama." I do hope that I didn't scare him away. Engineering really isn't a very glamorous profession. Nonetheless, I believe he received a valuable lesson. Perhaps he will change his mind, once he begins college ?
A...
Good to see you giving back. We need more people like you to reach out. I am sure the young man benefited from his experience. It's unfortunate, though, that he was not coached before he took the assignment on how to express his thanks for the opportunity. Youth should be instructed to leave present Management believing they have made a positive difference in ther career development, and respond in a way to leave the doors open in the event they want to return. We have a lot of work to do with our youth :))
Ms. "G"
Actually, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and would welcome the opportunity to mentor another deserving youth. Most likely, he won't really know what he wants until he's completed 2yrs of college.