DUBLIN -- Juniors from Pulaski County High School have the chance to get a taste of the working world.

On Nov. 21, students can shadow business people as part of Pulaski County's first Youth Excel Program.

YEP is a job-mentoring program established by the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce and the chamber's Economic Development Commission so students may experience a career they might want to pursue, said John Neel, the commission's chairman.

Local business people formed the commission earlier this year to find ways to contribute to Pulaski County's business community, such as bringing in new businesses and helping them succeed. That includes finding employees, Neel said.

"One of the things we kept coming back to was that we have a lot of home-grown talent," Neel said. "We want to let students know about the great job opportunities they have here."

Students may shadow workers in more than 100 businesses in Pulaski County, Radford, Christiansburg, Blacksburg and Wytheville.

"It's one thing for students to hear or read about careers in school, but it's another for them to see and experience it firsthand," said Rod Reedy, Pulaski County High School's principal. "I think it will open students' eyes and be very motivational and create opportunities that they wouldn't have otherwise."

The shadow jobs were chosen by identifying 12 occupational areas and breaking them down into specific jobs, said Elaine Woolwine, career and technical education administrator for Pulaski County schools. The chamber then called for businesses to volunteer to let students shadow an employee for a day.

"It's all about making a cooperative effort to say we need employees who are employable to keep businesses in the area," Woolwine said. "Everybody -- students, employees, businesses, agencies -- have to put forth an effort to make businesses work."

Students must return a form with their top three job-shadowing choices by Friday. There are 103 positions for about 170 juniors enrolled in world history classes this semester.

A second YEP day is tentatively planned for next semester for juniors enrolled in world history in the spring, as well as students who do not get a place this time around.

"We want to make sure all students get a chance to participate at some point," said Ken Bowling, the chamber's president.

The idea is not only to let students know about the diversity of jobs in the area but also to give them a mentor and a goal to work for, said Peggy White, the chamber's executive director.

Students are more likely to be motivated in school and continue their education if they have a career goal, White said.

YEP kicked off with an assembly last week that outlined the program through a presentation given by business people, including Neel, Chuck Swain, human resources director for James Hardie Building Products, and Anthony Akers, the county's community activities director.

"There are two groups sitting in this room right now. Those who are coming up on the end of the best days of their lives -- they'll say, 'Man, high school was the best and that's it' -- and those who are about to begin the best days of their lives," Swain said while addressing the assembled students Friday. "It's up to you. Which will it be?"