Programs :: JA Job Shadow
Dear Job Shadow Coalition Leadership:
For the annual Job Shadow Day on the “Hill,” Junior Achievement helped arrange an honor for me, and that was to shadow the Assistant Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education, Dr. Henry Johnson. Contrary to my preconceived notion of a Presidential appointee, Dr. Johnson was a kind, sociable, and down-to-earth man. In fact, as I sat in Dr. Johnson’s office (better known as “Dr. J” by the staff), the highlight of the conversation was not just quality education, public school reform, and the public charter school issue, but on more personal things like family. Further, Dr. Johnson rendered different perspectives that counteracted my previous views of the public charter school system. Initially, I believed that the public charter school system was simply better than the traditional public school system. By the end of our conversations, I realized it’s not solely the type of school that determines success and efficiency, but the leadership. As Dr. J put it, a school’s leadership really determines the productivity and success of a learning institution.
By the end of the day, I had met many kind and hardworking individuals that I can only hope to work with some day. But overall, what I learned from meeting such phenomenal people in Dr. J’s office is that sometimes what matters the most when choosing a career field is not just the salary, but the passion you have for the work you do. The one day I spent at the U.S. Department of Education made it clear that they are people of passion. Dr. J set the tone of the office I shadowed for the day, and engulfed visitors in an ambiance of smiling faces. I truly respect everyone in the office, including Dr. Johnson’s Chief Deputy, who also showed me a world that’s proud of what they do for a living. As the great, former Secretary of State General Colin Powell has said, “ALL work is honorable.” Through my experience on National Job Shadow Day, I KNOW that it’s not just the people that make work honorable, but the work itself.
Thank you so much for this experience. I will remember it always.
Sincerely,
LaMika Robinson
High School Senior
Washington D.C.
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Dear JA Staff:
Thank you for organizing this terrific opportunity for America’s youth to get involved in the public policy process. I appreciate you giving me the chance to meet and converse with my Senator and U.S. Representative.
Because of these conversations, I was offered an internship by each office. I learned so many valuable things pertaining to the job responsibilities of each Legislative Assistant.
I enjoyed the city of Washington D.C. and the speeches made by your chosen officials. Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to get involved in public policy in our nation’s capital.
Sincerely,
Justin Shaw
Job Shadow Ambassador 2006
