ExTEnDED LEARning OPTiOns
Experiment
with
Careers
Try oUT your career options with
out-of-class learning experiences.
W
hile still a student at James Bowie Technology, Engineering & Mathematics summer, though, she changed her mind.
High School in Austin, Will outside the classroom, says Michael “I really got to see what environmental
Ward gained more than passing Rodriguez, assistant director of the Upper engineering is about,” she says. “There’s
knowledge of the best depth at which to Rio Grande Texas Tech Prep Youth a lot of paperwork and you deal with the
place sonars—underwater devices that Consortium, which coordinates career and government a whole lot. I was like, ‘Okay,
use sound to track submarines and other tech-prep education in West Texas. “Some this is not for me.’”
objects—to protect U.S. naval bases. He was information can only be gained through Another summer internship helped her
not working as a spy for a foreign country. real-life experience,” he says. find aerospace and mechanical engineering.
In fact, he was part of the High School It was with NASA’s High School Aerospace
Apprenticeship Program at the Job shadowing
University of Texas at Austin. One of the best ways to check out a
The program allows career before making too much of a
THe uT marIne scIence
students to work at UT’s commitment to it, Rodriguez says, is
InsTITuTe, on THe gulf of mexIco In
Applied Research Laboratories spending a day following someone who
on U.S. Department of Defense works in a profession in which you
porT aransas, began conducTIng
projects under the guidance are interested. When you job shadow,
researcH In 1946 and Is THe
of professional lab chances are just as good that you’ll
oldesT marIne lab In Texas.
researchers. As part of his discover a career you don’t like as that
experience, Ward explains, you’ll find something you love.
“I helped write the “There are jobs that look glamorous,” says Scholars Program at the Johnson Space
computer code that would Rodriguez. “One example is forensic science Center in Houston. She worked with an
determine the right depth because of the way it’s portrayed on television. aerospace engineer at the Neutral Buoyancy
at which to place sonar.” But on TV, you don’t see the long hours and Lab. The world’s largest indoor pool is
the dirt and the grime. We’ve had students used to simulate the weightless conditions
hands-On Learning dead set on that career. Then we send them on of space. “It was an amazing experience,”
The experience taught Ward job shadows. They walk out saying, ‘I hated it. Crawford says.
not only about national I don’t want anything to do with forensics.’” Crawford adds that her internships helped
defense, but also about the her get into college. “I got a reply in three days
value of hands-on learning. interning from the college I wanted to attend,” she says.
“I learned that there is only In an internship, a student gets a more “Then, in just a matter of days, they offered
so much you can do with in-depth look at a particular career by me a scholarship for $5,000 a year for four
pen and paper,” he says. working for an employer in that field, years.”
“Sometimes you just have to sometimes for pay.
build it and see what works best.” Sharla Crawford, a senior at Conroe High Competitions
There are several similar ways—including School in Conroe, liked environmental Science and engineering competitions
job shadowing, internships, apprenticeships, engineering when she job shadowed in are another great way to gain real-life
part-time jobs, and competitions—to the ninth grade. When she interned with experience, especially in teamwork and
gain real-world experience in Science, an environmental engineer for an entire leadership skills, says Debbie Jasek, who
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