Shadow Play
Through shadowing externships in Winter Session’s PORTfolio course, students experience potential career fields firsthand.
By Megan Z. Shearin | January 13, 2010
Think about taking a course where you only spend seven days in the classroom.
That’s right. Seven. Only one full week.
That idea sounded good to 14 Virginia Wesleyan students who are enrolled in the Winter Session PORTfolio course, Career Study. The course gives students the chance to research potential career fields by completing a 30-hour shadowing externship at a career site of interest. Community sites range in disciplines from the Virginia Beach Police Department, Sentara Bayside Hospital to the World Affairs Council.
But that’s not all that students gain from the course. They also earn three credits toward their degree, network with local professionals and have the opportunity to engage in real-world situations.
Criminal justice major Travis Aicher ’10 from Salem, Va., said his externship with the Virginia State Police solidified his decision to become a state trooper.Students complete a 30-hour shadowing externship at a career site of interest and research potential career fields.
“I followed the troopers and went along with them as they did their job,” said Aicher. “I did ride -alongs, spent a day with the dispatchers, went with the bomb squad and watched troopers testify in court.”
Kate Bourdow Juhl, assistant director of career services who serves as instructor of the course, said it’s fascinating to see the progress students make in only three weeks.
“Students are able to clarify their career goals and make plans for the future,” said Juhl. “Several past externs have even been able to turn their experiences into internships and paid part-time positions with their externship sites,” she noted.
One such student was Ashleigh Roberson ’11 from Fredericksburg, Va. After completing an externship with the Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Therapeutic Recreation Department, Roberson landed a part-time job working with high school students with disabilities in the afterschool program.“The course is a great way to learn about other careers outside of your own major, see what careers you can pursue with your major and experience a potential career firsthand.” – Ashleigh Roberson ’11
“I learned that you should know what part of your future career you actually want to do,” said Roberson. “You won't always get to do exactly what you like, but knowing what parts you enjoy is helpful when it comes to making a decision about a future career.”
Students in the course are able to pick a career site that best matches their future plans. Once on site, students write journals processing their experiences and conduct two informational interviews with professionals at the site. A discussion of career interests, personal values, skills and interests, and what they learned from their experience takes place inside the classroom.