Thanks to the United Way of Allegheny County and their Be 1 in a Million initiative, PA eMentoring has matched over 500 high school students to online career mentors in Allegheny County.  The PA eMentoring program gives educators an innovative way to connect kids with working professionals and gives kids an opportunity to create a post secondary education and career plan while talking to a mentor.  Smart Futures staff started to recruit schools for this initiative, with the help of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, in the fall of 2011.  As of today, February 28, we hit our target mark!

The schools involved in this initiative are:  Allegheny Valley, Avonworth, Baldwin Whitehall, Chartiers Valley, Clairton City, Crossroads Foundation, Deer Lakes, East Allegheny, Elizabeth Forward, Fox Chapel,  Gateway, McKeesport Area, PA Learners, Parkway West CTC, Pittsburgh Project, Sci-Tech Academy, Shaler, South Allegheny, Steel Center, Sto-Rox, The Neighborhood Academy, and Woodland Hills.

We are so excited to have the opportunity to share our career education programs with Allegheny County Schools.  A special thanks to the United Way of Allegheny County for making this possible.

 Torsten, originally from Germany, is working at the University of Pittsburgh in the Economics and Statistics department as a lecturer.  He is also currently working toward his Doctorate.  Mary is a sophomore in high school and plays basketball, softball, and is in the marching band.  She is involved in many extracurricular activities and clubs, and is the treasurer of her class.

Mary and Torsten’s rapport from the start of their PA eMentoring relationship has been valuable.  With their high level of engagement, and genuine interest in excellence, both parties have connected and shared guidance and advice.

Although Mary is unsure of a future career path, she is very interested in several science related jobs.  ”I have thought about becoming a pharmacist, pediatrician, or even a physical therapist, but I don’t know for sure what I would like to be. I am currently taking chemistry at school, and I have loved all of my science courses up until, and including, this point.”

Torsten has suggested looking into some of the job profiles within the professions Mary is interested in.  As an employee at the University of Pittsburgh, Torsten has taken the time to share some of Pitt’s course information as well.

“As a foreigner to this country, I have greatly benefited from the support, the warm reception and the friendships extended by many Americans.” says Torsten.  ”I feel very fortunate that I have now arrived at a point where I can start giving back to the community that has continuously been offering me so many opportunities. Working with young people on their education and careers at Pitt,  mentoring came a natural choice.”

Torsten and Mary’s eMentoring relationship blossomed throughout the time they have been working together.  Each are contributing thoughtful responses to the activity questions and are sharing valuable information.

“I have found eMentoring very helpful as I begin to make my career choice.  I am one of the students who is not quite sure yet what I want to be, and this program has helped me eliminate some professions as well as take others into consideration,” says Mary.  ”I am looking forward to finishing the program and hopefully having a better idea of what career I would like to pursue.”

Thank you Torsten and Mary for your exceptional effort and dedication to this program.