Seguin Today: Seguin Job Shadow Day gives students a close look at local careers

Darren Dunn

(Seguin) — Local employers are giving students from Seguin, Navarro and Marion high schools a first hand lesson in how they do their business.

Organizers say approximately 150 students participated in this year’s Job Shadow Day, organized by the Seguin Economic Development Corporation, the Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce and the CTE programs at local schools. Each of the students got to pick one of the job shadow opportunities available.

Carlos Moreno, the owner of Lonestar Home Solutions, says the job shadow program is a good idea, and he was eager to have his company be a part of it.

“Kids are our future and I think we need to continue to invest in them but specifically in our trade, construction. It seems that it is in a downward trend with kids maybe not thinking there’s opportunities in construction or just a hands on approach whether it’s an electrician or plumber. We just wanted to open our business to really show them that there is a lot out there in the construction industry from estimating to design to actually installation of items but also to put ourselves out there because we are always looking for good high school students, college students to help take us to the next level as well,” said Moreno.

Summer Knight, a senior at Marion High School, says she was surprised to hear just how many services were offered by Lonestar Home Solutions. She says the job shadow program allowed her to learn something new.

“I’m exploring job options and saw something that I thought I might be interested in so just came to see what exactly they are all about,” said Knight.

Javier Chavez, a senior at Navarro High School, also shared some of his thoughts on the program and his day spent at the business.

“I’m kind of undecided still on what I wanted to do in the future and I just thought maybe give it a chance on the construction and remodeling and learn a little more about it,” said Chavez.

Lonestar Home Solutions actually took on three students, and showed them flooring showroom, which is the former Campbell Floors location on College Street. They also showed them how they take on design, renovation and construction projects.

Navarro High School Senior Jesus Vielma was the third student on the tour. He says the job shadow program will definitely help him to get prepared for the future.

“I just wanted to see what kind of business they run because I’m more into business management and sales — learning more about floor design and all of that,” said Vielma.

Moreno says it was a honor welcome the students into his business. He says he wanted to show them what they do, but he says it was also important for them to understand that there are lots of opportunities available to them right here in their hometown. Moreno says he once stood where those students are now, and he thinks the job shadow program would have been helpful to him.

“I took a different path. I went into an engineering degree and then I kind of felt like man, this is not what I had a passion for and then I got into the construction, remodeling so I feel like if these kids are kind of gravitating toward a certain degree, we can show them that there is so much more in construction so I applaud them for taking on the construction but now, they are really starting to see that there are other options there inside the construction industry. It’s not just the installation of things but there is designing, management things like that,” said Moreno.

Seguin High School student Aracely Medrano learns more about law enforcement from the front seat of Seguin Police Officer Melinda Escobar’s patrol car. The experience was part of this year’s Job Shadow Event.

Over at the Seguin Police Department, two Seguin High School students were getting a major lesson in law enforcement. Demarcus Harris says he thinks he would like to become an officer, and being there at the police station was an eye-opening experience.

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