The opportunities are endless and the lessons learned last a lifetime.
During the 2018-19 school year, 65 students from the Class of 2019 visited approximately 100 job sites to shadow professionals in a wide variety of fields. The visits are made possible through the Jr./Sr. High School’s “College & Career Enrichment Program.” 
Throughout the school year, the program gives participating seniors several, unique opportunities to shadow a professional in his or her work environment. This allows students to learn, first-hand, how the important workplace skills they are learning in the classroom can be applied in the real world. By interacting with a professional in an authentic work environment, students are also regularly networking, improving communication and listening skills and gaining confidence for life after high school.
Senior Jovonna Walsemen plans to attend Utica College in the fall to major in Psychology. She says the College & Career Enrichment Program helped her confirm what she wanted to study and pursue after high school.
“At the beginning of the school year, she made it very clear the program would allow us to figure out what we are interested in and what we actually wanted to do in the future, or what we don’t want to do,” Walsemen said of Mrs. Weissenberger, the program’s coordinator. “I shadowed a psychologist, visited the maternity wing of a hospital and spent time with New York State troopers who specialize in forensics. All three experiences helped me decide that I wanted to go into psychology.”
Fellow senior, Ashley Murphy, aspires to be a maternity nurse, and plans to attend SUNY Brockport in the fall to major in Health Sciences. She says the College & Career Enrichment Program helped her navigate the many different career paths in the healthcare industry.
“I tried radiology, but it wasn’t for me, confirming my desire to be a maternity nurse,” Murphy explained. “But, it was still a good life lesson because I was able to realize you can’t cure everyone even though you really want to.”
The benefits of the College & Career Enrichment Program are not limited to positive experiences in the workplace. As part of the program, each senior must be in good academic standing and create a portfolio, which includes a cover letter, resume and references. Additionally, each senior is required to complete a research paper about his or her career choice, write a reflective essay at the conclusion of every visit to a specific job site and send a thank you card to their host.
Mrs. Weissenberger says she is grateful for all of the businesses and professionals who generously volunteered their time to work with students - - especially Westmoreland alumni who are in the midst of prosperous careers.
“Experts agree that the most connected people are often the most successful,” Mrs. Weissenberger said. “When you invest in your relationships - - professional and personal - - it can pay you back in dividends throughout the course of your career.”
The rewarding experiences have underclassmen excited about participating in the College & Career Enrichment Program next school year.
Even though junior Alexis Rocco already plans on becoming a kindergarten teacher, she says the program will still be extremely beneficial.
“I am looking forward to shadowing in different places to expand my love for teaching and children,” Rocco said. “I have heard from a lot of seniors who have valued the chance to go out and try different things. You literally can go to a bank one week and to a vet the next. If you are not sure what you want to do in the future, it’s a great way to experiment.”
“I think a lot of students my age have a broad view of what they want to do in the future,” Walsemen added. “The College & Career Enrichment Program really helps narrow things down.”
The College & Career Enrichment Program is looking forward to a great 2019-20 school year!