THIS week year 10 students from St Ninian's High School in Douglas have gone out to experience the world of work, writes Issie Ferris.
The students have attended a variety of companies including law firms, opticians, shops, banks and garden centres for their work experience.
Sian Wilkins went to Corlett Bolton and Co Advocates in Finch Road, Douglas.
She went to court for the first time which she said was very exciting and she saw the High Bailiff.
She has also been doing lots of administration including going to the general registry looking up deeds for houses and her house.
Sian said that work experience has helped her learn the requirements of the job and about choices she will have to make in later life. She hopes to go sixth form and receive the A levels needed to get into Edinburgh University to study law.
Nicky Merritt, an advocate at Corlett Bolton and Co said that Sian is a very reliable student.
Nicky thinks that work experience benefits the company.
She said: "It's good for us to give back to the community, we like to do that here. As we have people who do work experience at a variety of ages, we do have some people that come back and work at the practice."
Rui Ramos has also been on work experience but has had an entirely different experience.
He has had the job title of a general nursery man at Alexander Nurseries in Alexander Drive, Douglas.
He has been potting, composting and seed sowing. Rui said that the best part of the week was putting compost into pots and planting seedlings.
Rui's a vocational student at St Ninian's High School and is studying engineering.
He prefers a more hands on approach and his work experience has shown him that and when he leaves school he may look for a more practical job as opposed to working in an office.
Rui told us that he had been working from nine until three.
At the start of the week he was in the green house - because of the rainy weather - but as the sun came out he started working outside.
Rui's employer, Tom Long, said that Rui is hard working and he hopes to have another work experience student at the nurseries next year.
Tom said that work experience has benefited his company because of the help he has had from Rui.
This year's work experience has been a success with students learning about their careers choices and learning some new skills. I am certain that the other year 10 students, as well as Rui and Sian, have had a great time too. The year 10 students of St Ninian's I’m sure will want to say a big thank you to their employers, as I wish to thank mine for the wonderful experience I have had.
Issie, 14, is a Year 10 student at St Ninian's High School in Douglas. She has spent her week of work experience at isleofman.com
