Junior Achievement hosts 4th annual career day in partnership with Sol C. Johnson High School and local businesses

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA - Junior Achievement (JA) of Georgia, in partnership with 18 local businesses, hosted its 4th annual career day at Sol C. Johnson High School on Wednesday, April 20, 2016.

At the event, high school students were able to interact with local business professionals and to participate in hands-on demonstrations, which exposed them to what a typical day looks like for professionals across various sectors.

"I've never talked to a lot of women who are in big math and science things,” said Kiera Napolitano, a Junior at Johnson High School. “For her to be like, 'oh she bought a business and it’s a construction business,' is good because I want to go into engineering; there's not a lot of women in engineering."

Napolitano’s realization encapsulates the power that authentic and relevant experiences can have when infused with real-world business connectivity. The breadth of businesses that participated in the career day allowed students to learn about careers that they may have never been exposed to.

Companies that participated include: Advertising Specialty Services, The Art Institutes, AT&T, Chatham County Juvenile Court, Collins Construction, Empire Beauty School, Georgia Power, Gulfstream, Jasper Design Services, JE Dunn Construction, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, Savannah Fire Department, Savannah State University - Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Savannah State University - University Counsel, Savannah Technical College, Sebrell Smith Entertaining, SunTrust, University of Georgia Department of Foods and Nutrition.

“Our programming depends on partnerships with companies like these to bring relevant business experiences that truly change the way students think about their futures,” said Jack Harris, President and CEO of JA of Georgia. “We are thankful to the support these companies give to Savannah area students throughout the entire school year, and look forward to continuing our partnerships.”

Many of the businesses who participated in Wednesday’s event are also participating in Mayor Eddie DeLoach’s Summer 500 program, which begins May 31, 2016. The inaugural summer internship program will give students the opportunity to gain real-world experience in a professional setting, helping them to build their soft skills and explore possible career paths. 

Q&A with JA Fellows Alum: Khadejah Jackson

How many years were you in the JA Fellows program?

4 years

What year did you graduate from high school?

2015

 What college do you attend and what's your major and expected graduation year?

University of Oregon, Business major, 2019

Favoritefood?

Almost any soul food dish

What are some of your recent achievements? What is your proudest achievement in life?

Invited to join Business Honors Program, 3.9 GPA, and living independently. Proudest achievement thus far is attending college and being able to manage the changes.

What is the most important thing you took from the JA Fellows program that applies to your life now?

As a business major I am required to take a lot of math classes and business related courses, one of which is BA 101 (Business Admin class like a JA 2.0 in terms of running a mock business). All of the skills (understanding different position roles, monitoring numbers, collaborating, etc.) I learned in JA are reoccurring again for me in many of my courses being a business major.

How do you think the JA Fellows program, in conjunction to what you have learned since leaving the program impacted your career readiness?

I came to college more prepared because of JA. In terms of the classroom, I have a general understanding in my business classes. Socially, I gained a better sense of professionalism and how to interact in large gatherings. Additionally, I learned that college is a major networking opportunity for students to expand beyond the classroom and campus for career opportunities. JA has instilled me with confidence and the ability to network with others, and how to ask others for what I want or need. My JA experience was a true indicator of real life and I see that through my ability to be able to pitch an idea, make myself standout in a crowd, and how to engage in conversation with professionals

Is there anything that you would like us to know or highlight about your life journey?

JA also helped me financially by connecting me with scholarship opportunities which came in handy this year.

Q&A with JA Fellows Alum: Jabari Moore

How many years were you in the JA Fellows program?

I was in JA Fellows for 2 years.

What year did you graduate from high school?

I graduated in 2012.

What college do you attend, what's your major and expected graduation year?

I am currently a senior at University of Georgia majoring in Finance. I will be graduating in May.

Favorite food?

My favorite food is macaroni and cheese.

Tell us your story!

JA played an integral role in my success through the various opportunities to network and learn about entrepreneurship. I was originally planning to be a chef, but through my experience with JA, I learned more about other professions and had access to professionals with tangible experience they could share with me.

Through JA I had the opportunity to do a job shadow with a venture capitalist and that changed the outlook of my professional life. Since graduating from high school and entering college, I have carried my interest for venture capital and entrepreneurship intomy studies and work experience. I've interned at a start-up incubator in Atlanta and a start-up and a venture capital fund in Silicon Valley.

JA was integral in sparking the professional interests I currently have. It is so inspiring to see the next generation of innovators participating in JA programs, and I am looking forward to being a part of their journey.