On the job: EOHS placement students explore future career paths : My Mountain View Now

Businesses in Olds and around central Alberta opened their doors last week for local Grade 10 students to participate in 3-day internship placements.

It was the first year for the program at Ecole Olds High School.

Georgia Ryan has her sights set on a career as a lawyer and got to do her placement at the Red Deer Justice Centre. She says “I got to interview a prosecutor, a criminal defense lawyer, and a judge. It was really cool. I got to pick their brains which is a really rare experience. It was really cool.”

Astraea Sanderson is hoping for a career in the aviation industry as a pilot, mechanic or air traffic controller and her placement was with the Olds-Didsbury Flying Association. She says this experience will help her chose her classes for Grade 11 and beyond. Sanderson says “definitely, yeah I have to take all the sciences and try my best to get into the top classes – if I can – to get into Sky Wings if they still offer it for Grade 12.”

Nash Lansing is looking at a career path in the trades and did his internship at Normark Homes. When it comes to picking classes for next year, he says last week’s placement helped him make up his mind “I’m really thinking about getting into shop class again because I wasn’t able to get into it for this Grade 10 year, so I’m really hoping for that.”

Shanalyn Anand did her placement at the long-term care unit at the Olds Hospital where she shadowed her Mom. She says “I really want to pursue being a nurse because I just like really want to help people and it has just always been a dream of mine. My Mom is a nurse so, obviously, I want to follow in her footsteps.”

A total of 140 students from OHS were able to gain valuable life experiences through the internship placement program.

Hear audio with the students who visited 96.5 The Ranch last week below and see more photos of their on the job adventures by checking out the École Olds High School Facebook page.

Connor Patriquin