Teen Uses Flyer Campaign to Find Career Shadows

A high schooler is landing local shadowing roles to explore career paths before starting college applications.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Teens

Bold vector editorial illustration of shoes on a city sidewalk, representing career exploration, using a warm palette of coral and teal. — High school junior Avi Lichtenstein is gaining hands-on career experience by connecting with local professionals for shadowing opportunities across New York City. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Would you encourage a high schooler to pursue direct job shadowing to explore career paths?

High school junior Avi Lichtenstein launched a job-shadowing initiative in October 2026 by distributing 300 flyers across New York City. The 16-year-old hopes to explore various career paths before starting the college application process.

Why it matters

For students navigating the pressures of future planning, this self-directed approach offers a way to gain real-world career insight. By investing in hands-on experiences, students can better identify their professional interests before committing to higher education paths.

The campaign involved a total of 300 flyers distributed across New York City at a cost of $500. The student plans to shadow one professional each week throughout the school year.

The players

Avi Lichtenstein

A 16-year-old high school junior who initiated a localized flyer campaign to secure career-shadowing opportunities.

The details

To launch the project, the teenager hired two people via Craigslist to post the flyers on streetlamps throughout the city. The initiative has already facilitated shadowing sessions with a dog groomer, a radio show host, and a ramen shop owner, while also drawing interest from an airline captain and a tattoo artist. Following a recent shadowing visit, the student also received an offer for part-time work.

October 2026: Campaign launched to secure weekly job-shadowing opportunities.

The Home Front

This self-directed project mirrors the growing emphasis on early career exploration found in the National Association for College Admission Counseling survey on college readiness. It reflects a wider trend of students seeking independent ways to vet potential career paths before college applications.

Families can use this as a prompt to discuss career interests and identify local professionals within their own network who might be willing to host a short shadowing session. Setting a clear goal for one exploration per month or semester can help students gain clarity without high costs.

The takeaway

Proactive career exploration does not require formal programs if students are willing to pursue direct outreach. Parents should help their high-schoolers build a list of local professional contacts to facilitate these low-risk, high-value exploratory visits.