03/29/2024
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In early February in Bladen County, the groundhog is not the only one looking for a shadow. Each year Bladen County Schools Career and Technical Education Department and Bladen County 4-H partner to bring the annual 8th Grade Job Shadow Day to life.  This year’s event was on Thursday, February 4, and around 96 youth qualified to participate in this annual event.

To be considered, eighth graders wrote essays about their future career and why they would like to work in that field. Each middle school in Bladen County can recommend up to twenty students based on their submissions. Then, the planning committee contacted  businesses and professionals in our community to provide a couple of hours of shadowing on the job experience for the youth. We had students visiting the hospital, retail stores, veterinarian’s office, the Department of Transportation, and many others.  We even offered a virtual job shadow experience for one of the youth interested in Marine Biology and a gospel recording artist and her sound person were able to set up a mini recording studio in the Extension office for the morning so that two of the eighth graders could actually get experience recording music.

The students traveled back to the NC Cooperative Extension office for a luncheon and presentation. This year, Tiina Mundy from Bladen Community College provided information about what not to wear to a job interview and discussed professional dress. Then, Stacie Kinlaw, Bladen County 4-H agent presented information about soft skills to the 8th grade students using information provided by the staff of the Bladen County NC Works Career Center. 

Superintendent Robert Taylor brought the welcome and words of encouragement and inspiration to kick off this year’s luncheon, which was sponsored by STAR Telephone. The planning team is very thankful to all of our local business partners and local professionals that serve as hosts to these eager eighth graders and they all agree that this year’s event was a true success!

If you would like additional information about this annual event and how you or your business could support future activities that enhance and engage our youth in career exploration, please contact Bridgette White of Bladen County Schools, planning committee chair at 910-862-4136 or Stacie Kinlaw, Bladen County 4-H Agent at 910-862-4591.

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