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Bath teens devote summer to working
BY TYLER DIAMOND • CONTRIBUTING WRITER
 | | Michael Colaw has been working at the Wellness Center for two summers. He is a senior at Bridgewater College majoring in physical therapy. Colaw hopes to return to the Wellness Center one day as a physical therapist. |
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HOT SPRINGS - The teenage population in this area readily claims there is little to do over the summer break, and some choose not to make the much of their time off from school.
But there are others who find working toward their goals requires getting to work, and establishing a foundation upon which to build a future after college graduation.
Three Bath County youths, Michael Colaw of the Wellness Center, Elaine Brown of Alleghany Mountain Radio, and Alex Cooper of the Homestead, exemplify that trend. All have been spending the summer learning what it takes in fields they love.
Colaw wants to become a physical therapist, and secured a job at the Bath County Health and Wellness Center. Colaw first got the job last summer and has been working steadily in summertime and during school breaks. He currently attends Bridgewater College and hopes to attend graduate school at Shenandoah University.
 | | Alex Cooper attends the Culinary Institute of America where he is learning the art of cooking. Cooper is working at The Homestead this summer learning the intricacies of what it takes to become a great chef. |
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As an employee of the Wellness Center, Colaw's duties include mirroring the physical therapists, helping members with exercise equipment and instructing them on proper form. "I love it. It's something I really enjoy doing," Colaw said. "I'm going to school to become a physical therapist. When I heard they were hiring students down here, I jumped on it to try and see if I liked it. I've really grown into it. It's something I love doing. I think being around the therapists has given me more than I'd ever have gotten if I hadn't had this job. It gives me ideas for what I can do in the future.
"I'd like to come back for as long as I can," he added. "I love it down here. I love the people here as well as the setting. Hopefully one day, when I get out of school, I can come back here and get a job."
 | | Elaine Brown is a Vista volunteer at Allegheny Mountain Radio. She travels throughout the county interviewing individuals for news stories and recently landed her own show on Thursday nights. |
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Brown is a Vista volunteer at Allegheny Mountain Radio and has been working for the station since mid-April. Brown's main job is to pull news stories together and head up the weekly feature known as Allegheny Showcase. Brown says she really enjoys her role. "It's completely unlike anything I've done. I really love the people I work with. It's interesting work."
Brown wants to get one or two more years of experience the radio station before she pursues any other areas of interest. "I'll probably go back to school and I'll try to narrow down my options. I'll probably end up somewhere in the non-profit field," she said.
"It's the first real job that I've had for an extended period of time," she added. "It's an interesting environment because we are generally short-staffed and we have to fill in for other people."
In downtown Hot Springs, an aspiring chef has been working at The Homestead. Cooper spent his last year at the Culinary Institute of America. While at school, Cooper learned the business as- pects of the food business while maturing his culinary expertise. "This year I have been working in several different departments. I work in cold meats, I work at the Casino, I work at Robino's, and now I work full time at the Grille."
Cooper heard about the position after meeting chef Roger Martin in an interview. "Our school has career fairs four times a year and he was there. We got along really well. We had some conversation and then he offered me a position here," he explained.
Work at The Homestead provides a much needed recess for Cooper. "There is no instructor looking over your back," he said. Cooper is enjoying his time away from school because it gives him more freedom outside the school structure. He is currently aiding the staff in developing a new menu for the Grille. The job is preparing him for a career, Cooper said. "This kind of research and development is not seen in the classroom."
Despite Bath's rural character, it seems there are plenty of opportunities for young people who want to explore their options, and the hands-on experience they gain is a solid way to add real life experience to academic study.
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