Yesterday Holly and I had the honor of being host to 2 ambitious students from Central High School in Providence for
VIPS Job Shadow Day in conjunction with the Providence Rotary. VIPS (Volunteers in Providence Schools), is a non-profit program that provides Providence Public School students with opportunities to grow academically and socially. I spent the day with Charleny Acevedo, a Junior at Central High School who is a straight-A student and is currently learning English as a second language. She moved here 2 years ago from the Dominican Republic and is interested in becoming a doctor. Because of her interest in medicine, we got to talking about our
MD Preferred Program, which allows Residential Properties to offer discounted moving services, special financing programs and free home warranties to practicing and graduating physicians.
Holly and I met the girls in Providence, and then Holly brought her job shadow, Ada de La Cruz, to Cumberland to tour her sales office. Ada is also in her Junior year at Central High School and interested in medicine. Both young women have been a part of the VIPS program for a few years. The after-school program gives the students an opportunity not only to accomplish the day's homework assignments, but to meet members from the community from a variety of professions. Prior to meeting our job shadows, Holly and I were given a series of tasks to perform with them during our day together. This included introducing the students to members of the office and explaining their roles, reviewing the company mission and values, and identifying the method of dress, greetings and introductions used in the workplace. At noon, the four of us met back up for a lovely lunch at the Providence Marriott with other job shadow pairs. Each student received a certificate for their participation in the program and several students shared something they learned during the day in front of our assembled group. We'd like to thank Charleny and Ada for taking a day from their school vacations to visit with us for Shadow Day!
