Students use summer break to jump-start career plans

JACKSON, Tenn. — Students as young as 12 years old are preparing for the workforce.

Parents hope the “Follow Me Into Business” program, started by the Jackson-Madison County African American Chamber of Commerce, will give their teens that extra push into their future career.

“It gives them something to do, something to look forward to every morning,” said Lashika Rivers, a parent of one of the students in the program. “They have the experience like I do. I have to get up every morning and go to work.”

Day one is all about introductions.

“One of the things we find is they’re uncomfortable talking to people they don’t know, and we’re trying to break that — feel comfortable in your own skin, know who you are, present yourself,” Clarence Boone, one of the program organizers, said.

Parents believe the earlier they start this program, the more effective it is for their students.

“They start them out early, because if you start a student out early, they will learn better, so when they do get a job in the future, they’ll know what to expect, how to dress, how to speak and how to apply themselves,” Rivers said.

Kids ages 12 to 15 go through an eight-week training program with opportunities to shadow business owners. Students 16 to 18 years old can get paid for their summer work.

This program started in 2002, and students can apply to be a part of it each May.