Mentor Seniors Get Taste Of Working World During Projects

Three weeks ago, senior thought he wanted to be an early childhood teacher.

Now he knows it.

Holder spent the last 2 1/2 weeks at the , as opposed to a classroom, doing what he hopes to do for his career.

"It was great," he said. "I like to be active and actually doing things and not sitting at a desk."

"It reassure made that I'm made to do this," he added.

Holder was one of the 328 Cardinal seniors who filled their school's student center Wednesday evening to show everyone what their goals might look like.

Each of the students had just spent 2 1/2 weeks with an organization that reflected their intended career. They went to NASA, the Cleveland Browns, Lake Health, Cleveland Clinic, Lake Humane Society, Honda of Mentor, FEMA, Mentor Police Department and many more.

Kellee Skouby, the school's senior project administrator, brought back the project after it was discontinued some years back.

"There is a place to learn things outside of the classroom," said Skouby, who is also a special education intervention specialist for the school.

"The work world is very different," she said. "A lot of the kids learn independence and other skills they'll need in life."

Kayla Swider spent the last two weeks with the Mentor Fire Department. Even though she's a member of the Explorers -- and, consequently, she's been around firefighters and paramedics before -- her senior project allowed her more access than she's had before.

"You actually get to go on the medical calls and see what they do," she said.

Meanwhile, to study engineering. However, while at the NASA Glenn Research Center, he learned he wanted to focus more on the hands-on aspects of engineering.

Even though the project lasts fewer than three weeks, Skouby said it had an immediate impact on many of the students.

"You can see a lot of growth even in the two weeks they've been gone," she said.

It certainly had an impact for Holder.

"I actually got a job offer out of it," he said.