Students from West Springfield High visited the General Services Administration’s information technology office in Washington, D.C., for a business tour and job shadowing experience. After touring the recently-renovated building, students heard from GSA volunteers, who offered their time to mentor students and talk about their careers.  This work-based, learning field trip reinforced what students are learning in their information technology and computer science classes.  Students not only connected what they are learning in school to the real world and their future career goals, but they also learned about staying safe online, being responsible cyber users, and how to search for federal government internships. GSA employees encouraged students to continue studying and learning IT skills in school, as nearly every job requires some technology skills. Students said they learned about the GSA, including that it buys products in bulk for the federal government and that it employs financial managers, IT specialists, and attorneys. They also learned how computers support the work for the government and that GSA leads the presidential transition team every four years. West Springfield employment and transition representative Becky Cousins and the business and information technology teacher Taneisha Ng, along with GSA IT professionals, organized the event.  A work-based learning grant from the Foundation for Fairfax County Public Schools helped make the tour and mentoring experience possible. Contact news liaison Sherri Braxton at [email protected].