By Mary Frost
Brooklyn Daily Eagle

BROOKLYN -- From 86th Street in Bay Ridge to Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights and beyond, students from two Brooklyn high schools “shadowed� AT&T employees at company-owned locations throughout the city this past Tuesday.

Students from the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism at Erasmus Hall and Enterprise, Business and Technology High School (on the old Eastern District High School campus) got a chance to experience a slice of the real world of work with AT&T employees.

Nakesha Wilson, a senior at the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism and a junior achievement ambassador, was nominated by her teachers to participate in Shadow Day.

“I learned all about AT&T’s history and all the skills I would need if I wanted to have a retail position, like people-to-people skills and communication skills,� she told the Brooklyn Eagle Thursday. “I learned that if you want the sale, you have to get people interested in the product and learn the positive things about it.�

Nakesha said the AT&T workplace environment “was not too strict and by the book. You could relax and have fun. It made me feel comfortable and feel I could be myself in the workplace.�

She also learned that AT&T helps employees pay for college tuition. “They told us how education is something they look for when hiring. Because of what they told me, I have an interest in working for AT&T,� she said. “I like retail, and I would like to work for AT&T. Even though they work on commission, they maintain a team spirit.�

“At my age, retail could help me finance my education. And the retail skills that Junior Achievement taught me are skills you can always use at any time in a future career.�

Gives Students a Leg Up

This was the second year that AT&T teamed up with Junior Achievement for the AT&T/JA Worldwide Job Shadow Initiative. In addition to the Brooklyn students, students from Kings Park High School shadowed employees working in AT&T’s administration building in Woodbury, N.Y.

“Competition for good paying jobs will continue to be fierce and that makes it more important than ever for us to prepare our young people for the workforce,� said John Jefferson, vice president, AT&T External Affairs, NYC. “This partnership between leaders in business, education and the local community will provide a meaningful stepping stone to area students.�

Many students drop out despite the fact they have passing grades, AT&T’s studies show. They often don’t see the relevance of their schoolwork today to a future career. Job shadowing provides a chance for students to explore potential future careers and connect what they learn in the classroom to real life opportunities.

“Based on the tremendous success of previous Job Shadow events held earlier this year, we decided to widen the program with network and enterprise sales colleagues who can give additional perspective on future careers in wireless, education requirements, what it takes to succeed and most important, sharing their personal stories,� said Tom DeVito, vice president and general manager for AT&T in New York and New Jersey and NYC Junior Achievement board member.

The initiative is committed to reaching 100,000 high school students over five years. During the 2008-2009 school year, over 13,000 students in over 100 cities participated. For more information, visit www.jany.com

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