COLUMBIA, S.C. — This summer, the Columbia Urban League is giving students ages 14 through 19 the chance to develop and expand their career skills.
The organization's Science Technology and Enrichment Program (STEP) pairs students with local organizations that match their career interests, helping them gain valuable employment experience.
"I would publish newspapers and help out and review them to make sure when they publish them it would make sense," said 15-year-old program participant Taeshon Robinson. Robinson enjoyed the experience so much that he wants to do it again next summer.
"I worked at Panorama Newspaper Place. I worked 1-5, and those two weeks were kind of fun. I thought it would be boring, but it was a fun job," Robinson added.
Similarly, Gabrielle Fauntleroy applied to the program five years ago as a 14-year-old. Now, she's back working with STEP to help future generations gain the skills she learned at a young age.
"Now I'm actually in the seat where I can give students jobs and speak to them and help them with orientations and just teach them how to have worksite etiquette," Fauntleroy said.
The program's objective is to provide work experiences that include exposure to global technology and the skills necessary to obtain and maintain gainful employment.
This is something that Ronda Owens, the grandparent of a participating student, admires, especially during the summer months.
"Programs like this are very important. If they're not busy, they will be occupied with something, and if they're going to be occupied in something, we want them in something positive," Owens said.
This is one reason why Trevin Montgomery, the general manager of Robertson Optical Laboratories, wanted his company to get involved.
"We have had students here for the past three years now and have enjoyed it, and it has been rewarding to us and, we hope to those students as well," Montgomery said.
Montgomery has welcomed dozens of students over the past three years into his establishment, where he and his team of 40 employees teach students how to make eyeglasses while working as a cohesive team.
"We actually have them do what we call tracing, which is tracing the frame, so they are learning about the very first initial steps into the optical world, how we make eyeglasses here," Montgomery explained.
Tracing is only the first step. Students go on to learn the entire process of making spectacles. While Montgomery admires their work ethic, the time spent with the students allows older generations like him to understand their aspirations and desires better.
"To see these kids come in here, it just warms our hearts. And it also helps us to understand how to approach these students, how to better talk with them, and how to better engage them," Montgomery said.
If it weren't for companies like Montgomery's, students like Gabrielle wouldn't be in positions to now support future generations.
"It's important that I can show them it is possible to do the things they are doing now and be where I am in college and come back and be able to serve," she said.