WATSONVILLE — Every year around this time, a group of Watsonville High School students foregoes class for the day, opting instead for a day at work.
The students, nearly 80 in all, were taking part Wednesday in Watsonville Rotary’s job shadowing program, designed to connect young people with local professionals in fields that interest them.
From cosmetology to dentistry to firefighting to police work, the students fanned out through the community at 50 locations.
These included Watsonville Community Hospital and Driscoll’s Berries, UC Santa Cruz and Cabrillo College, Pàjaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture and the Watsonville City Council.
The program was open to any interested high school student. It has been a Rotary mainstay since its creation more than a decade ago.
Watsonville High School junior Brayden Arnold spent the morning at Watsonville Fire Department, where he toured the facility, went on a couple of calls and sat down for breakfast with the crew in their quarters.
He said becoming a firefighter has long been a goal.
“I was born here, and I want to give back to the community,” he said.
Julian Olvera, 18, a WHS senior, said he hopes for a job in public safety, and that firefighting is at the top of his list. He is also considering becoming a police officer.
“I want to help the community, and make it a better place,” he said. “Either putting out fires or taking out bad guys.”
Part of their tour included a talk about what it takes to get the job.
That includes Emergency Medical Technician training, an agility and strength test, getting experience with a reserve firefighting program, becoming a paramedic and going through a fire academy.
“It took me eight years to get this job,” firefighter/paramedic Mike Elmasu said. “But I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”
Ortiz said her interest in the dental field stemmed from a desire to conquer her fear of visiting the dentist when she was young, and of seeing blood.
“I said, ‘I need to get over that,’” Ortiz said.
Lemus also said he has wanted to study dentistry since he was younger.
“Your teeth are one of the first things people see when they look at you,” he said. “I want to help them.”
Watsonville Rotary President Murry Schekman, who helps coordinate the event, said the event helps foster relationships between mentors and their protégés, even as it offers experience outside the traditional classroom experience.
“As a former principal, I know that this is the best way to learn,” Schekman said.
