Career day gives South Sound students glimpse into health care field
Early on a Saturday morning, the halls of MultiCare Capital Medical Center buzzed with chatter, laughter and excitement. Twenty-three local high school students spent the day learning about careers in health care during Big Brothers Big Sisters Health Care Career Day.
Hosted by Capital Medical Center in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington, the career day brought together youth from Thurston, Mason and Grays Harbor counties who expressed an interest in working in health care.
Participants had the opportunity to hear from local leaders; participate in hands-on demonstrations for radiology, surgical services, infection prevention and more; and try their hand at the da Vinci surgical robot.
For Taryn, a 10th grader from Lacey, the day provided a peek into the future she hopes to achieve.
“I want to become a physician’s assistant, and this visit really helped me get closer to the field I want to go into,” she says. “I was able to learn a lot and experience what other doctors have experienced.”
Making community connections
Big Brothers Big Sisters is perhaps best known for mentoring programs serving youth ages 5 to 24. The local organization also hosts monthly events to introduce local youth to career options in a variety of fields.
While the Big Brothers Big Sisters program doesn’t have income maximums, many participants come from single-parent homes or households that qualify for free and reduced lunch programs.
Many students might not have opportunities to learn about careers other than what they’re exposed to in their homes, explains Moriah Candler, program director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington. These career days give youth a chance to explore their interests and options.
“These kids have deep roots here. We want to keep them local and help them grow even deeper roots so they can contribute back to our community,” says Candler. “This day helped open doors to new opportunities within health care and made the students really excited about it.”
Events like this also bring together MultiCare employees.
“Seeing our staff at the event and seeing the joy it brought them to share their expertise with the Littles, I could see they were enjoying themselves and filling their cups,” says Will Callicoat, president and market leader at Capital Medical Center.
More than 28 staff members participated in the event by hosting interactive stations, sharing their career stories and providing hospital tours to the participants.
“Partnering for healing and a healthy future means more than serving our community’s medical needs. It means connecting with our neighbors like Big Brothers Big Sisters to build a stronger community,” says Callicoat. “My hope is that we helped solidify these kids’ interest in health care, and maybe even inspired a few to come back and work at Capital Medical Center.”
Youth need mentors like you
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington serves youth ages 5 to 24 in Thurston, Lewis, Mason, Grays Harbor and Pacific counties. The program is always looking for more mentors, particularly those who are male-identifying, as there are currently more male youth waiting to be paired with mentors.
Becoming a mentor is easy. Candler explains it doesn’t have to be flashy activities or elaborate plans; it’s really about showing up and spending time with a local youth. The main requirement is to have an interest in connecting with the community, though applicants must also complete a screening process and pass a background check.
Find mentoring opportunities with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington. For those outside of Southwest Washington, visit Big Brothers Big Sisters of America to find the agency serving your area.
