BB2C And What I Want To Be

Tori Gaston, Williamstown High School

Building Bridges to Careers has been a helpful mentor these last two years of  high school, a guide that has prepared me for a life filled with many pathways. I first interacted with BB2C my junior year at Williamstown High School; it was also ironically their first year with Williamstown! Mrs. Tonya Davis came into my English classroom and gave a presentation on all the programs that were now in reach and all I needed to do was grab a computer and start the application process, and it was truly as simple as that. I was excited to see how I could explore my career interests and even potentially earn an internship, but what I didn't know was the wonderful opportunity I would soon have in store. 

The first experience I had with BB2C was Discover Engineering Day where I participated in hands-on activities and even networked with local engineers, something that Building Bridges has taught me is essential in the business world. I then continued to explore another avenue as I signed up for Discover Mental Health Day and met with several companies who worked in all aspects of mental health. This opportunity led to my first job shadowing placement with Westbrook in Parkersburg, an experience that I am more than grateful to have seized. At this point, I figured I had made my decision: I wanted to be a clinical psychologist. Well, my senior year proved me wrong and BB2C helped me realize how much I enjoyed working with students and helping them start their own career-finding journey. 

During my senior year, I had the wonderful chance to be a BB2C Student Ambassador, and participate in an internship where I could integrate my organizational skills with my passion to help others in any and every way I can. I began the year familiarizing myself with the BB2C’s website and refreshing myself on all the offers this establishment presents. It all seemed fairly manageable and calm until Mrs. Davis and I went into classrooms to give presentations. I came into the guidance counselor’s office third period after our presentation day, my designated working time for BB2C, and found more than four students sitting in the waiting area to start their application processes, and it only picked up from there. Throughout this year, I have kept a running spreadsheet of over thirty students participating in the job shadowing program, set up meeting times with our senior students with internships, and continued to broadcast BB2C’s available programs.