JMG Students Sing Through Their Career Exploration Experience
JMG is bringing Maine employers and public education together through our Maine Career Exploration Badge, which provides Maine students with 40+ hours of meaningful work experiences that align with their interests and aspirations.
“Sign Me Up”
With a passion for music, Sean and Saydee, JMG students at Morse High School in Bath, wanted to explore career opportunities in the music industry. Through the Maine Career Exploration Badge, their JMG Specialist Maria Morris connected Sean and Saydee with Expanding Sky Studio in Brunswick.
"They got more than they ever expected."
“When I met them, it felt like it was going to be a one-day thing where they'd come and watch what we do in a recording studio. When I came back here and talked to my partners, we were like, 'We should have them in for more than a day, and let's get some hands-on experience.' And so we put them to work straight away, and they rose to that. It was really kind of amazing to watch." - Paul Comaskey, Expanding Sky Studio Producer, Assistant Engineer, and Coordinator
"They discovered things about music that they didn't necessarily know they were interested in before."
"On a confidence level, the differences we saw on day one to today was absolutely amazing. The physical differences in the way that they were carrying themselves and speaking with us, that's half of getting a job is having that confidence." - Will Lederer, Expanding Sky Studio Producer, Engineer
"Seeing them have those moments where we're helping them define themselves with some kind of surety. This is OK for me to be a songwriter. It's OK for me to be a singer. If I want to be a sound engineer, I can do that because I know I can do it, because I did it already." Paul Comaskey, Expanding Sky Studio Producer, Assistant Engineer, and Coordinator
"If I didn't have JMG, I don't think I'd ever be sitting in a studio."
"It sets you on the right path to figuring out more about what you want to do and how to get there, and I think it is a really good opportunity that JMG is giving us." - Sean
"You can be from Maine or small towns and still have these big goals and do something with it and make it go somewhere." - Saydee
By partnering with public education and employers, JMG is helping students to gain real-world experience and build meaningful connections that will prepare them for success in the workforce.