Business Hopefuls Meet Their Mentors

The 37 students in Ocean View High School’s Business Academy were introduced this week to mentors who will help them to explore their chosen fields, which cover a wide range of occupations including law enforcement, interior design and business management.

The students, all sophomores, started the three-year academy in the fall. Participants are exploring career possibilities while taking classes in computer and other technical skills, and receiving leadership training, apprenticeships and access to community college programs.

Ocean View started its Business Academy four years ago and is expanding it this year with help from a $42,000 state grant.

“The current sophomores are really the beginning of a much more intensive program,” said Roy Batelli, academy co-director. “We hope the mentoring relationships can last the rest of the students’ high school career, and they might end up being friends forever.”

Professionals volunteered to become mentors and were selected if they were in occupations in which a student had expressed an interest.

Mentor Connie Willson, who is an office manager for Fluor Daniel Inc., said she saw the program as a good opportunity to help students who are interested in management.

“It offers students a view of what the business world is about,” Willson said. “A lot of students haven’t had a chance to see professionals in action.”

Jesse Bucio, 15, said that after he’d spent five minutes with his mentor at the first session this week, he knew he had made both a contact in the construction industry and a new friend.

“I play volleyball, and he asked for my game schedule,” Bucio said. “He also wants to meet my parents. I think I’m really going to keep in contact with him for a long time.”