2021 Job Shadow Day

February 4, 2021

By Youth Commissioner Aroshi Ghosh, representative for District 4

It’s your junior year in high school and all your classes are virtual. You are juggling AP classes and multiple extracurricular activities. But what is this really for? What do you want in life? Do you want to attend college? Do you want to go straight to work? How can you learn to succeed when all you know is how to pass random classes?

Whether you are trying to get into a four-year college or planning to attend vocational school, the Valley Water Youth Commission wants to support students in Santa Clara County through Valley Water's annual Job Shadow and Mentorship Day. The goal is to give you the resources you need to succeed.

This year, the Job Shadow and Mentorship Day will be hosted virtually by the Valley Water Youth Commission, a group of high school students working to raise awareness and help the environment through local initiatives such as creek cleanups and youth citizen science networks. Job Shadow and Mentorship Day initially started in 2016 by Valley Water staff. Since the Youth Commission became an official Board Advisory Committee in 2018, the Youth Commissioners have been more actively engaged in the event to ensure it meets students’ needs in the community.

In the past, attendees would go on tours of the facilities, meet mentors in their field of study, and attend speaking panels and workshops on various topics such as career readiness, water, and the environment. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will host the half-day event virtually on Zoom, where students will go through virtual tours, games, workshops, and panels.

If you are interested in learning more about careers with water or the various pathways after high school, register for our virtual 2021 Job Shadow and Mentorship Day. Our event will be held on Zoom on February 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and is open to all high school students in Santa Clara County.

Valley Water manages an integrated water resources system that includes the supply of clean, safe water, flood protection and stewardship of streams on behalf of Santa Clara County's 2 million residents. The district effectively manages 10 dams and surface water reservoirs, three water treatment plants, an advanced recycled water purification center, a state-of-the-art water quality laboratory, nearly 285 acres of groundwater recharge ponds and 333 miles of waterways. We provide wholesale water and groundwater management services to local municipalities and private water retailers who deliver drinking water directly to homes and businesses in Santa Clara County.