The Real World: Cleveland
Below is an article that appeared in the May 6, 2006 issue of the Collegian
By Amanda Muetzel
Collegian Writer
At 6:55 a.m. April 25, 22 professionally dressed students boarded a charter bus bound for Cleveland, Ohio. Armed with portfolios, thoughtful questions and eager expectations, the students were prepared to benefit from the sixth annual Cleveland Alumni Shadowing Event was underway.
Each year, Dr. James Thrasher ’80, director of Career Services, organizes this valuable event to introduce students to the requirements of professions and industries and to help them prepare to join the workforce. Students are matched with an alumnus whose career corresponds one that they may want to pursue in the future.
From English to electrical engineering, the range of the students’ majors matched the variety of professions represented. The shadowing experience helps to demonstrate the connection between academics and careers, exciting students to learn by making their class work more relevant.
Most of the students who attended the event were juniors.
Mandy Sposato ’00, assistant director of Career Services, said, “We typically try to target juniors for this shadowing experience as they are at the point of moving forward on making a career decision and preparing for next year’s strategic job search. The shadowing experience provides them an opportunity to interact with someone from their field of interest and can hopefully confirm for them their interest in this particular vocational pursuit by shadowing an individual for a day.”
The schedule of events for the participants included a continental breakfast, a day of formal shadowing, and a closing reception. During breakfast at Beacon Place in Independence, Ohio, each student was paired with his or her shadowing partner. From there, the students and alumni dispersed to job sites in the greater Cleveland area.
Companies such as NVR/Ryan Homes, NASA and National City welcomed students to their offices. Students were able to witness the dynamics of different work environments.
For many students, another highlight of the day was being treated to lunch by their partner. Interactions such as these help to foster an ongoing relationship between students and caring alumni.
Another purpose of the event is to encourage students to have a realistic view of the world of work and their field. Junior business management major Emily Marsh has always planned on going into corporate law.
“Spending the day with a corporate attorney confirmed that desire but being able to talk with a few attorneys who specialize in litigation sparked an interest in that as well,” Marsh said.
Along with some other students, Marsh had the opportunity to tour The University of Akron School of Law.
“The highlight of my day was being able to visit the University of Akron School of Law. It was a great opportunity to meet some law students and professors for an inside perspective of what law school is really like,” Marsh said.
Likewise, junior molecular biology major Garret Choby spent his day shadowing Leann Speering, Coordinator of Orthopedic Surgery for the Summa-Health System in Akron.
“My experiences during the day opened my eyes to the importance of quality research to support the ever-shifting field of orthopedic surgery,” Choby said.
In addition to obtaining a realistic view of the workplace, students also gained a valuable perspective on life. Junior finance major, Tim Schneider spent his day shadowing David Frank, an Investment Advisor for First Federal Bank of Lakewood.
“The most surprising aspect of his job was the flexibility he had to come and go from the bank and be able to work his schedule around his family. One thing that I learned from this shadowing experience is that I want to have a job that allows the flexibility to make time for my family,” Schneider said.
Part of experiencing the “real world,” is realizing that things don’t always go as planned. On the way to Cleveland, the bus driver made several wrong turns and was pulled over and ticketed by a police officer.
In addition to providing some laughs, the travel obstacles provided a valuable lesson to students: no matter what your job is, do it well. Other people are counting on you.
In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “If a man is called a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and Earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.’ ”
This lesson was affirmed by all of the hardworking alumni.
“Overall, we were very pleased with the day,” Sposato said. “The students and alums who participated seemed to really enjoy the experience and found it to be a worthwhile program.”.
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