BIDDEFORD — When Seth Delisle, a seventh-grader at Scarborough Middle School, learned he and his class were going to Volk Packaging in Biddeford for Job Shadow Day, he though, “Oh, they’re making boxes” ”“ and he wasn’t too excited about the prospect.
But after visiting the company, taking a tour and seeing all the computerized machinery that was used for the manufacturing process, he was very impressed.
“It’s more of a science business,” said Delisle, who said that field is where his interest lies.
Delisle was one of the more than 20 students in teacher Donna Viola’s seventh-grade class visiting Volk Packaging in the Biddeford Industrial Park Friday.
Viola’s class was one of a number of middle school classes in southern Maine participating in Job Shadow Day, an event sponsored by Junior Achievement of Maine. It’s part of a nationwide initiative that provides students with an up-close and personal look at varied career opportunities.
Volk was the only company participating in the program in York County, but a number of companies in Cumberland County, including Sam’s Club in Scarborough, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. in Westbrook and Home Depot in South Portland, also took part.
In addition to touring the facilities, each student was matched with a Volk employee who explained his or her position and then carried on their regular job while the students observed.
Delisle and Wyatt Fowler were matched with Volk company president Derek Volk.
Like Delisle, Fowler said he was impressed.
“I thinks it’s a really cool business,” said Fowler. “I’m amazed what technology can do.”
Fowler said he hopes one day to work in a small business like Volk, and this experience has made him even more interested in pursuing that goal.
Other students, like Ellie Robinson and Olivia Haddad, were partnered with employees. Robinson and Haddad were matched with different people who both worked with customers.
“I learned about customer service,” said Haddad.
Robinson, who plans to become an engineer, said she found the experience pertinent to her interest because customer service representatives use computers and a lot of math skills.
Even Haddad, who plans to become a fashion designer, said she found the job shadow experience interesting.
Felicity Pelletier had such a good experience job shadowing that she said, “I want to work here.”
Viola, the instructor, said her classes have participated in Job Shadow Day for several years.
“It’s a good experience for the students,” she said, because it exposes them to what the business world is like and to different types of careers.
Volk said his company has participated in the job shadow program for 15 years. He said he likes talking about his job and his company with students, and showing them that making boxes is a lot more exciting than it seems.
— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.
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