Gwinnett high school seniors help others while exploring potential career paths

Shiloh High School seniors De'Onta Alston, Ayanna Gash and Isreal Koker-Thomas are among the first class of students to complete its International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme. ERIC STIRGUS / ESTIRGUS@AJC.COM

Shiloh High School seniors De'Onta Alston, Ayanna Gash and Isreal Koker-Thomas are among the first class of students to complete its International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme. ERIC STIRGUS / ESTIRGUS@AJC.COM

Shiloh High School’s graduation ceremony is set for Sunday, but for a group of seniors, they can also lay claim to being trailblazers on their campus.

The 16 students completed the International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme. Shiloh was the first Gwinnett school to implement the program.

The students gained experience in their careers of interest, but as importantly, they used their skills to help others through the program’s community service component.

The community service projects included traveling to New Orleans to participate in a community clean up and volunteering at a Stone Mountain center.

“It touched my heart because...it helped me appreciate what I have,” said Isreal Koker-Thomas.

They also did internships related to their desired career field, such as work at Gwinnett Medical Center.

Shiloh High School teacher Jamilya Mayo is the coordinator of the school's International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

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Jamilya Mayo, the teacher who coordinated the program, said they implemented it at Shiloh to help students use the skills they were learning in their career pathway.

The students had to complete projects examining an ethical issue in their career pathway, such as should the sale of organs be legalized in the United States.

The work was rigorous. About one-third of the students didn’t complete the program.

Senior Ayanna Gash, an aspiring sound designer, said going through the program opened her eyes to challenges in her industry, such as music piracy. De’Onta Alston said he learned a lot about the world through visits to the Center for Civil and Human Rights.

“There’s only so much a textbook can teach you,” he said.