Putting potential to work: MyWorks gives MCHS students hands-on employment experience
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LEWISTOWN -- For many high school students, a first job is more than a paycheck. It is a chance to build confidence, gain independence and discover strengths that may not have been visible in the classroom.
At Mifflin County High School, the MyWorks program has been creating those opportunities since 2016, helping students develop workplace skills while preparing for successful transitions beyond graduation.
Through partnerships with local employers, the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, job coaches and community organizations, students gain meaningful work experiences while learning what it means to be part of a team. The program’s philosophy extends beyond simply placing students in jobs.
“We are not simply teaching students about employment,” said Rachael Davis, Mifflin County High School transition coordinator and life skills teacher. “We are giving them opportunities to actually experience what it means to be a valued employee in a real work environment.”
That emphasis on authentic experience helps students develop communication skills, workplace responsibility, problem-solving abilities and professional relationships. Just as importantly, they gain confidence in themselves.
“My favorite part is seeing the students realize what they are capable of,” Davis said. “Watching a student who may initially be nervous or unsure become confident, independent, and proud of the work they are doing is incredibly rewarding.”
Trayven Shaffer: Making connections
Among those students is Mifflin County senior Trayven Shaffer, who entered the program after being referred to Davis and connected with OVR.
At the Lewistown Country Club, Shaffer tackled a wide range of responsibilities, from maintaining bunkers and pools to washing golf carts, trimming brush and operating various tools and equipment.
“Through this experience, I learned how to work as part of a team, complete tasks professionally, and meet people I might not normally interact with,” Shaffer said. “I discovered that I am a hard worker, enjoy completing tasks on time, and work well with coworkers.”
The experience helped him realize he could successfully find and maintain employment on his own.
“MyWorks helped me build confidence in my ability to find and maintain a job independently,” Shaffer said.
That growth is exactly what program staff hope to see as students begin viewing themselves not simply as students completing an assignment, but as employees making meaningful contributions.
Max Hertzler: Shpaing his future plans
For senior Max Hertzler, MyWorks provided his first job experience and helped shape his future plans. Working at Mifflin County High School alongside the custodial staff, Hertzler assisted with end-of-year cleaning by sweeping, mopping and scraping floors.
“At first, I was nervous because it was my first job,” Hertzler said. “However, my job coach, Maria, helped me feel more comfortable by explaining tasks in ways I could understand and assisting me when needed.”
As his confidence grew, so did his interest in the work.
“Through this experience, I discovered that I enjoy janitorial work and would like to pursue a career in the field after graduating this year,” he said.
The program’s impact extended to his family as well.
“As a parent of a child with special needs, I always worried what life would look like for Max after he graduated,” said Amanda Hertzler, Max’s mother. “College isn’t an option for some children, but we felt Max could succeed in other ways and we just needed to find what interested him and what he would be good at. This program was a great way to teach Max job readiness skills. I’m grateful he had this opportunity, it really helped him.”
Now, Hertzler has an interview scheduled for a part-time janitorial position, something he credits in part to the confidence gained through MyWorks.
Brady Rowe: Preparing for a job in the real world
The program’s value is equally evident in students like senior Brady Rowe.
After meeting with Davis and completing the OVR enrollment process, Rowe began working in a variety of settings, performing tasks that included cleaning sand traps, collecting tree trimmings, assisting with event setup, preparing ice bags, helping with pool maintenance and pressure washing patios.
“This experience helped prepare me for a real job in the future,” Rowe said. “I learned that I can work well with coworkers, ask questions when I am unsure about something, and complete tasks with some assistance at the beginning.”
Along the way, he also developed positive relationships with coworkers and gained experience working as part of a team.
For Davis, stories like those are powerful reminders of the importance of providing students with opportunities that mirror the experiences many teenagers value most.
“MyWorks gives our students the opportunity to feel like typical high school students who have responsibilities, jobs, and a purpose within their school community,” she said.
Over the years, students have worked at locations including the Lewistown Country Club and Valley View Retirement Home in Belleville. This year marked another significant step forward when the Mifflin County School District became a MyWorks employment site for the first time.
The addition allows students to develop workplace skills while contributing directly to their own school community, reinforcing the message that their work matters and that they play an important role in the success of the organizations they serve.
The program’s collaborative approach has also attracted recognition beyond the local level.
MyWorks plays significant role
According to Faylyn Frost, a vocational rehabilitation counselor with OVR, Youth Advocate Programs, one of MyWorks’ key partners, is being recognized by OVR as an outstanding service provider, with its partnership and collaboration with MyWorks playing a significant role in that distinction.
The recognition reflects the teamwork that drives the program’s success. Schools, vocational rehabilitation professionals, job coaches, employers and families all work together to create pathways for students to succeed.
Just as important, employers gain opportunities to see students’ abilities firsthand.
“I also love seeing the community recognize their abilities and give them the opportunity to be successful,” Davis said.
Ultimately, the success of MyWorks is measured not in the number of work sites or partnerships it creates, but in the confidence students carry forward because of those experiences.
It can be found in a student who arrives for a first shift nervous and unsure, then leaves knowing they can contribute, solve problems and succeed in the workplace. It can be seen in the pride of earning a paycheck, completing responsibilities and receiving praise from supervisors. And it can be heard in the voices of students like Shaffer, Hertzler and Rowe, whose experiences demonstrate what happens when young people are given the opportunity to prove what they can do.
By combining high expectations with individualized support and authentic employment experiences, MyWorks has become more than a transition program. It has become a pathway to confidence, independence and opportunity for students preparing for life beyond high school.