By Chuck Walker
MOBILE, Ala. – In the lyrics to the song “Greatest Love of All,” it says, “I believe that children are our future, teach them well and help them lead the way,” most recognized rendition by Whitney Houston.
That is precisely what U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, engineers were able to do for a local high school sophomore.
Colin Smith, a student at Murphy High School in Mobile, had the opportunity to shadow engineers and learn about the USACE and engineering during a mentoring event on Sept. 22 at the District Office in Mobile, Alabama.
The shadowing event provided Smith with the opportunity to learn about USACE, ask questions, determine which courses to study, and assess his interest in pursuing engineering and a career with USACE as a future goal.
“I feel the shadowing experience for Colin was great,” said Alou Rice, Mobile District environmental engineer. “He was soaking it all in. He felt involved and a part of the whole experience, as we asked questions about his story and his future plans. I know we made him feel like he was part of the process, and I feel overall it was a success.”
Smith’s day began with meeting several engineers, who provided him with an overall impression of what engineers do, and more specifically, what USACE engineers do for the District and its area of responsibility.
He was then able to have one-on-one time with various engineers, followed by a lunch with several engineers that included a question-and-answer session. Overall, it was a day filled with the gaining of knowledge and awakening to the broad opportunities that lie ahead.
James Hathorn, Water Management chief, said opportunities like this are significant because they open the eyes of young people to the wide variety of opportunities available for their future if they take advantage of them.
“Job shadowing is important simply because it provides an opportunity to make a difference in a safe space,” Hathorn said. “The student has the unique opportunity to watch, hear, and walk side-by-side with a professional. This insight, beyond the classroom, provides more information in their decision-making process as they navigate their career path. Often the experience is eye opening and expands the concepts of what they can become. I am a believer in if you can see it, you can be it.”
Smith said the thing he enjoyed the most about the day was the opportunity to interact with the engineers, picking their brains and getting an idea of what it’s like to be an engineer on a daily basis.
“I learned to never give up on my passion and my dreams,” Smith said. “I learned that being an engineer is a great career, but it takes a lot of hard work. There are many career options in the field of engineering. My experience was amazing. I got to see people that look like me, working in a place that I would like to be.”
Rice said opportunities like this are something that needs to happen regularly to show teens the options that lie ahead of them and as a recruiting tool for USACE and the District.
“Mentoring and shadowing can be used as a type of recruitment tool that we can use to plant seeds for future employment with USACE,” Alou said. “Because, as our workforce gets older, we need to bring in new, young, intelligent, talented, and energetic workers who are full of ideas to keep USACE viable and competitive in the future.”