Learning About Career Paths and Opportunities

As part of our Mission programs, our teams work with youth to help prepare them for the workforce and in development a career path.  Last week, a group of 11 teenagers (ages 13-18) went on a field trip to local places to learn about career paths, employer expectations, job opportunities, and volunteer opportunities.  Some of the youth were enrolled in a week-long pre-vocational course called Be Ready ( the second of three consecutive classes offered) that ABVI (Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired) is contracted to teach by the NYSCB (New York State Commission for the Blind).

Thanks to the generous donations from the Webster’s Lion’s Club, the Ladder to Success program, which makes the trip possible for all the youth we serve to join us, three other young people came along for the field trip. Throughout the day, the students were encouraged to ask questions like "What is the hardest part of your job?  What do you like most about your job?  What kind of math do you do?  Do you teach others?  What kind of technology do you use?" The destinations were selected based on student expressed career interests.  Among a few undecideds, we had a budding sports broadcaster, a librarian/archivist, a hairstylist, and an inventor. 

The group started the day visiting Dan Mason, the General Manager of the Red Wings Stadium who gave a tour of the locker room, the training room, the press rooms, and a corporate suite and talked about his journey in the sports industry.  They then met Kathy Connor at the George Eastman House and Museum who gave  a tour of the current Looney Tunes exhibit and explained how many behind the scenes jobs there are to give the public relevant, appealing, and genuine artifacts to enjoy.  She taught them about Mr. Eastman and how much she has learned in almost 30 years: she started at the Museum helping to create hands-on educational exhibits and has  become the museum Curator.  They then toured the Continental School of Beauty to learn how to get licensed to be a barber or hair stylist.  Lastly, they finished the day at RIT with professors of Interactive Gaming who emphasized the opportunities that exist for people who are visually impaired to make games more accessible. 

Thanks to your generous support through shopping and donating, Goodwill of the Finger Lakes is able to support and fund opportunities like this.  We serve over 150,000 people each year in a variety of ways - and it's all made possible thanks to your support of our local not-for-profit. Thank you!