November 17, 2014
Last month, five Otters from our Boston office hosted students from an area high school onsite for the Junior Achievement “Skills to Achieve” program. This one-day intensive program takes place at the corporate location and helps show students what types of skills are needed to succeed in specific industries. The program included lessons taught by OtterBox employees on STEM-related subjects applicable to the workplace and also general life skills such as financial literacy.
Following the more formal lessons, students were then immersed into the workplace while participating in a tour of the OtterBox facility and seeing our work in action! The volunteers enjoyed showing off their skills and getting kids energized about various career opportunities. Employee Shay said that her favorite part of volunteering was providing the tour of the facility. “I was surprised at how interested the students were in the program and our work!” Another volunteer, Damien, echoed the sentiment saying his favorite part was “seeing the kids’ faces when I fired up the machines and showed them how they operate.”
Our volunteers got just as much out of this great program as the students. “Every time I volunteer with Junior Achievement, it’s a learning experience not only for the students but for me as well,” said volunteer, Drew. “I learn through interacting with them, seeing their thought process, and helping them decide on possible career interests and paths.”
Overall, both volunteers and students loved this unique opportunity to extend learning outside of the traditional classroom and into a real-world setting. One volunteer, Ramon, said it best. “If there is a way to educate a student and show them that there are many opportunities they can accomplish, I want to be a part of supporting that.”