Career Ideas Blog

Career exploration is my thing. My work is all about helping students of all ages figure out what they want to be when they grow up. So, of course, I’m always on the look-out for people and programs who share an interest in helping kids prepare for bright futures.  Which explains why I was so excited to learn about an organization called Citizen Schools.  Citizen Schools is a national initiative that trains and supports adult professionals to share their expertise with groups of middle school “apprentices” during ten-week after school apprenticeships.  Everything about this organization so supports everything I’ve been trying to do all these years….

About five minutes after disovering Citizen Schools, I was signed up to offer a Publishing Apprenticeship at their Lowes Grove Middle School site in Durham, North Carolina. Last week, we (along with 11 other apprenticeship teams) celebrated the end of very productive (and really fun!) apprenticeships at a local community center. The students were looking good in their “professional attire” and totally lived up to the the event’s promise to WOW! parents, teachers, and community leaders.

To say that this was a rewarding volunteer experience is something of an understatement.  Citizens Schools is the type of program with potential to benefit every student it touches.   And it starts with a cadre of caring professionals willing to share what they love to do with students  eager to find the  passion that will ultimately  drive their own life’s work.  You can find out more at http://www.citizenschools.org.  But, first, take a look at the wonderful advice book written by the Lowe’s Grove apprentices!  Click here: Lowes Grove.