Dec 13, 2023 — High school students in the JA Fellows program at Chula Vista Learning Community Charter (CVLCC) held their semester showcase sharing their experiences and professional development.
“JA has had a really big impact on me ever since I started this program. Throughout the semester, we got to learn a little bit of everything. It’s not just learning what you want to do in your future, but also learning what life is really like as an adult,” said junior Alexa. “We had many field trips where we got to learn about the different career paths that are around us which will help us in the future in knowing what job positions we want to pursue.”
The on-site job shadow field trips and career panels were a popular favorite among the students. These experiences connected students to local industries and the range of career pathways within a company. More importantly, it connects students to the vast ecosystem of our local economy and helps them gain access to critical social capital and direct connection to industry professionals who can provide insight as to how to prepare for these and other careers ahead. Many students shared that these experiences helped them determine what type of careers they are interested in and what type of work doesn’t align with their interests.
In addition to career exploration, JA Fellows explored critical financial literacy topics through hands-on simulation-based learning experiences. Students were paired with professional mentors where they received personalized guidance on managing their personal finance and professional development.
“My mentor has taught me a lot about business and budgeting. She gave us new perspectives and advice. She told us that we should pay ourselves first and give ourselves a reward for what we’ve earned,” said senior Brianna.
“Through early exposure to career pathways and professional development opportunities, we are connecting young people to industries across San Diego’s economy. These workforce development opportunities, made possible in partnership with the business community, foster a local talent pipeline that is diverse, representative, and the backbone for inclusive economic growth,” said Sidd Vivek, JA San Diego President & CEO.
Students will complete the second part of the program in the summer of 2024. In partnership with local companies and organizations, students will be placed with a site host for a hands-on work-based learning experience.