CAREER AWARENESS AIMS AT `REAL WORLD'

The Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School and Southeast Missouri Hospital have teamed up this spring for some career awareness from the "real world" for high school students.

Judy Holshouser, guidance and placement counselor at the vocational school, along with members of the hospital staff have visited each of the eight area high schools that send students to the vocational school.

For years, Holshouser talked with 10th grade students about career options by herself. Last year, Bob Renschen from Procter and Gamble went with her to give students a business perspective about education and career planning.

This year, Southeast Hospital's Karen Hendrickson, assistant administrator, picked up the ball and arranged for a team of hospital employees to accompany Hols~houser to each of the area high schools.

Holshouser said the Cape Girardeau school is the only vocational school in the state using community members in these career awareness programs.

In addition to Tuesday's presentation at Notre Dame, presentations have been made at high schools in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Scott City, Advance, Leopold, Delta and Chaffee.

"They are on hand to answer questions about what the real world is like," Holshouser said.

Holshouser said a speaker from outside education makes a big impression on students.

She said, "They are actually doing a job. They have some very specific comments about what the work involves and what you need to do to get that job."

A hospital offers a wide variety of job opportunities.

"Students get a view of a very large industry, and a look at the number of people involved to run it," Holshouser said.

As students learn about different jobs and professions, Hols~houser is there to provide information about the education and training needed to perform those jobs.

Holshouser said the career awareness program is part of the vocational school's goal to make sure students are prepared for college or a career at graduation.

"They have to have a marketable skill," Holshouser said. "They have got to be able to perform something."

Hendrickson said, "Southeast Hospital has historically been concerned about the young people in the community."

She said the career partnership program with the vocational school was a natural.

"The hospital, being one of the largest employers in the area, has a tremendous number of opportunities for students to consider employment opportunities in addition to health care careers in the hospital setting.

"This is really a cooperative effort between the school system and the hospital to help these students make decisions that sometimes are lifelong decisions," Hendrickson said.

"What businesses and responsible adults have to be aware of is that students often struggle with what career to choose," Hendrickson said. "The opportunities are so great. And today's high school students feel they are supposed to have declared a life-long career by age 17. They are struggling with questions about what they will do when they graduate."

"Students always respond when they can talk first hand with people in the employment arena," Hendrickson said.

Southeast expanded the program, offering students a chance to spend half a day at the hospital watching people at work.

In February, 60 students visited the school. Another career shadowing day is planned in April.

Holshouser said she hopes to continue the program next year. Perhaps additional businesses would be involved, she said.