By Ryan Massad, Contributing Writer
Westborough – Jobs for Bay State Graduates (JBSG) is a class that prepares seniors for a career in the Bay State. Although most schools offer JBSG as just a one-year course for seniors, Westborough High School (WHS) goes above and beyond, offering students a three-year program.
Allison Jasmin is in her fourth year as the JBSG teacher at WHS. According to Jasmin, she has a great relationship with all of her students, and truly wants them to succeed.
“I hope that each student can leave the program feeling as though they have some idea of the career path they wish to pursue,” she said.
Sophomores are the first to take the course. The first year focuses mostly on career awareness. Different activities and discussions address career exploration. Students focus on self-development, organization, research and problem-solving skills.
As juniors, students select job goals and take the first steps towards achieving those goals. They conduct employment searches, create resumes and participate in mock interviews. Juniors also have the ability to shadow professionals in their career of choice for a day, or even multiple days.
In the third and final year of the course, seniors are provided with the opportunity to participate in a yearlong internship at a business that coincides with their career of choice. The internship experience provides planned activities and projects designed to teach students specific lessons about the business or occupational area. Seniors intern from noon to 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, students have “reflection” during that two-hour block, in which they look back on the work experiences and knowledge gained from the previous week.
Students complete the course by producing a PowerPoint presentation of what they have learned. Current WHS seniors are interning at businesses such as accounting firms, nursery schools, farms, auto body shops, law offices, indoor sports facilities; the Westborough Fire Department, and several other places.
Many of the students believe the program is extremely helpful.
WHS senior Delson Alves was offered a part-time job with the Bloom Law Firm in Westborough after his good work there as an intern.
“Jobs for Bay State Graduates has changed my life in a very positive way,” he said. “I now have a job in the field I wish to pursue later in life, and have gained great work experience through this program. I was only able to get this opportunity because of JBSG, and I think it can change many students” lives like it did mine.”
Jasmin keeps in touch with all of her students through the 12-month follow up program, and was happy to report that every single one has a bright, promising future.
“Knowing that I's helping these students is the most rewarding thing I can ask for,” she said.