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When I grow up…
June 29, 2007
Seven-year-old Espen Storfjell, son of faculty member Troy Strofjell, was among nearly a dozen children who tagged along to work with their parents on June 28.
National “Bring Your Child to Work Day” actually falls in April, but PLU decided to hold the event in June. Summer tends to be a less hectic time for both parents and children, explained Amy Irish, program specialist in residential life.
The children and their parents attended a lunchtime program that included coloring, snacks and a tour of campus to learn about different jobs. After visits to Mordvedt Library and Hong Hall, the tour ended in the Rieke Science Center with a visit to biology professor Tom Carlson.
Carlson proved to be the highlight of the tour. He studies Oriental fire-bellied toads and had some of his research subjects in tow. After a brief lesson, most of the children took the opportunity to hold the squirmy creatures.
Nine-year-old Avery Paz, son of Grounds Maintenance Manager Sara Paz, said the frogs were his favorite part of the tour.
Julie Winters, customer service and copier coordinator in University Printing and Publications, said she brought her 13-year-old daughter Shelby to expose her to different career paths. When she enters White River High School next year, the classes Shelby takes will relate to a pathway, such as arts and communication or business and marketing.
“They have to pick a career path right away,” Winters said. “But they don’t know about all the jobs available.”
Though Shelby learned about a variety of careers during the day, she said her mind is already made up: she wants to be a math teacher.
“I had a fourth grade teacher who inspired me to be one,” she explained. Shelby plans to attend PLU in the future.
The children and their parents attended a lunchtime program that included coloring, snacks and a tour of campus to learn about different jobs. After visits to Mordvedt Library and Hong Hall, the tour ended in the Rieke Science Center with a visit to biology professor Tom Carlson.
Carlson proved to be the highlight of the tour. He studies Oriental fire-bellied toads and had some of his research subjects in tow. After a brief lesson, most of the children took the opportunity to hold the squirmy creatures.
Nine-year-old Avery Paz, son of Grounds Maintenance Manager Sara Paz, said the frogs were his favorite part of the tour.
Julie Winters, customer service and copier coordinator in University Printing and Publications, said she brought her 13-year-old daughter Shelby to expose her to different career paths. When she enters White River High School next year, the classes Shelby takes will relate to a pathway, such as arts and communication or business and marketing.
“They have to pick a career path right away,” Winters said. “But they don’t know about all the jobs available.”
Though Shelby learned about a variety of careers during the day, she said her mind is already made up: she wants to be a math teacher.
“I had a fourth grade teacher who inspired me to be one,” she explained. Shelby plans to attend PLU in the future.