I have had several very different job experiences through Tech Ed in several very different workplace environments. I have worked with the civil engineer, a practicing doctor, and an aquarium worker. I have learned that specific skills are needed for these jobs.

          I spent the day at a civil engineering firm in Muskogee. The woman I followed had an important task at hand. She was predicting the water levels near residential areas in Tulsa to help prevent flooding. There were many tools available to her: her computer, maps of the area, and survey papers from the field. I found her work very interesting and I am considering a career in civil engineering.

          I also followed a friend of my father, a practicing doctor at a local clinic. I followed him on his rounds and watched how he interacted with his patients. The workplace environment was a fairly light one, but I suppose in that situation, one would need to be somewhat of an optimist. From my experience following Dr. Reufer and my father, I don’t really think this was the job for me.  

          At some point, I wanted to be a marine biologist, so I went to probably one of the only places to find a similar profession in Oklahoma: the Oklahoma Aquarium.  I followed one of the constant volunteers there. The care needed to keep fish on such large a scale is substantial. First, we went to the food preparation area, where we learned how to prepare the food for the various different fish. Then, we went to perform maintenance on the tanks. We then watched the feeding of the sharks, which was incredible. I am somewhat considering a career in marine biology.

         These experiences through our Technology Education program have seriously expanded my view of the modern career environment. They have been crucial to how I think about work today. I don’t know if I ever would have gotten the chance to shadow these people without Tech. Ed. and it could easily be said that I am much richer for the experience.