New Junior Mentoring Program To Kick Off at PVHS

"Our mission is to help every person be able to take steps toward their First Choice (Career Path)," said Jared Erb, First Choice Career Center coordinator with Pequea Valley High School (PVHS). "There's this notion about a destination, and once you get there, you have reached your first choice," said Erb. "(But), I think this is a direction rather than a destination."

That mission has led Erb to gather 64 mentors from the surrounding business community to work with current junior class members at PVHS. Beginning in September, students and mentors will meet monthly for breakfast and follow a specific plan to help students prepare for their senior year and career choices beyond. "Our first meeting, we will talk about our strengths and getting to know each other in a professional way," said Erb, who added that students have been working on their CliftonStrengths assessments since shortly after school began. CliftonStrengths, which is owned by Gallup, is designed to help students discover their inherent personal strengths. "Research says that when we are focusing on what we're good at, we will be more successful and fulfilled," explained Erb. "We are trying to help our learners become more well versed in what their strengths are so they can present themselves in a professional manner."

During the October breakfast, students will learn how to present their strengths to a prospective employer by practicing the elevator pitch. "During the elevator pitch, you introduce yourself and give a quick synopsis and what you're trying to accomplish for the future," said Erb, who added that students will also practice making a professional phone call, first with a script and later on their own.

At the November breakfast, the student and mentor will discuss "resume building and incorporating strengths into resume." They will also talk with mentors about how to present themselves in an interview.

In the December meeting, students will actually take part in a mock interview and learn a few interviewing strategies.

Erb described the learning atmosphere as relaxed. "We eat while we work and connect," he said, noting that previous mentoring programs utilized a more intense two-hour session with presentations. "The mentors (told us), 'We just want to connect with kids in a less formal setting,'" said Erb of the less formal breakfasts to be held this year.

In February, Erb organizes a job fair where students will have the opportunity to meet business representatives from throughout the area and practice the skills they learned over the fall.

"In March, we do a job shadow day," said Erb, who coordinates a one-day event where all PVHS juniors visit area businesses. "I send 13 groups to three stops each," said Erb, who connects with area entities in the fields of health care, education, business, transportation, the military, and more. "We align it with (each student's) first choice using the MyPlanPA system that tracks all their career planning," said Erb, who called the software "a handy tool for this type of work."

Students will have another chance to meet with their mentors following the job shadow day. Erb said the mentors and mentees will then discuss the steps a student can take in his or her senior year to invest wisely in a specific direction. "That helps me start planning their senior year early," said Erb, who shared the story of current senior Emanuel Tarango, who was part of both the PVHS Mentor Program and the Lancaster Chamber Program. "Tarango became interested in the building trades," said Erb. "He wanted to get involved in construction during his senior year, but he had only a little bit of experience in landscaping," recalled Erb, who connected the student with Smoker Door Sales in Gap. Erb had placed Evan Hershey with the company as an intern a few years ago. Over the summer, between Tarango's junior and senior year, Hershey trained him. As a PVHS senior, Tarango is working nearly full time at Smoker Door, while taking two online high school classes. "(That's) a result of spending time talking it through and being part of the mentor program and figuring out what he wanted to do," stated Erb. "We explored a lot of options, and this one became his favorite. It's a win, win, win," said Erb, who added that Tarango is getting started with his future career while still in school. "It's very cool," he said.

Erb's position at the career center, which he has held full time since 2021, involves running all kinds of work-based internships and credentialing, along with the mentor program, job shadowing, and more. "We are trying to connect kids to opportunities," said Erb. "It's difficult to get every kid out (to a company). (The mentor program) brings companies here in a more casual setting." Erb added that building relationships with community members is a special piece of the equation. "Our learners have an opportunity to hear local professional stories and open their minds to what is possible in Lancaster (County)," he said.

According to Erb, a student's progress toward his or her career choice may be stymied when the number of options becomes overwhelming. "Don't be a parked car," Erb warned. "We try to have each kid try a direction on," he said. "Choose a direction to travel for a bit. We can all change our minds at any given time."

Once a student starts traveling in a certain direction, he or she can develop character and gain skills. "Skills can be trained but character is earned," explained Erb. "(A student is) developing your character through who you are and picking up strengths along the way." He pointed out that students learn customer service skills, teamwork skills, and hard work skills by having working experiences. "It's not that (a student) will do (that job) the rest of (his or her) life, but these are skills they can take with them. We want kids engaged and finding the value in each and every journey."

Erb acknowledged the importance of mentors and other community members in the process. "It takes a village to raise the valley," he said.

Readers who have questions about the Pequea Valley First Choice program may email jared_erb@pequeavalley.net or call 717-768-5510, ext. 5518.