Fishers gives students a hands-on look at public service
FISHERS, Ind (WISH) – From police and fire to nonprofit, Fishers students are about to get a new experience.
Cleaning trucks and floors isn’t a side everyone gets to see of firefighting, but it’s something some Hamilton Southeastern Schools students want to experience.
“I really want to see what they do on a day-to-day basis,” HSE student Nevile Makau said. This is why he and Jada Edson applied to the mayor’s youth council.
Students will take field trips to the fire house, police station and city hall. “I think we could really make something that makes people want to get more involved with the community and just make it a better place overall,” Edson said.n
“I just wanted to talk to and find out how the local government works in Fishers,” Makau said. The point of this council is not just to walk around and meet people, but also to provide a hands-on experience.
The students even get a chance to put on equipment. This way, they can appreciate what it’s like to work in these professions.
“It’s an opportunity to provide kind of a glimpse into the inner workings and give kids an opportunity to learn about this as a career path,” Fishers Parks and Recreational director Tony Elliot said.
The students will also work with nonprofits, which will provide a $2,500 grant. “It’s educational, but at the end there are real dollars that they will have to, as a group, sit down and decide how to use that money to benefit the community,” Elliot said.
It’s an opportunity both of these students hope will shape their lives. “I’m really interested in the daily life of the police,” Makau said. “I saw that I’d be working with them, and I’m really intrigued by that.”
“I think it’s important to kind of feel what you want to do before you kind just be like, oh I’m going to go into this path,” Edson said. “I’m going to do this.”
The field trips start in September and run through April. Only 20 high school students will be selected.
Registration is open until Sept. 9. If you’re interested in applying, click here.