Local teen shares his gift of shopping
Brandon Germany loves to shop. Whether it's just looking at the latest styles or helping his sister and cousins shop for themselves, Brandon said, he enjoys putting fashions together.
Brandon Germany would like to work as a personal shopper after graduating from the transition program at Harlem High School.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
"After graduation, I'd like to be a personal shopper," said Brandon, a senior at Harlem High School who is enrolled in the school's job transition program. "I will probably stay in the area for a little while, but I would really like to go to one of the bigger cities and work there."
The allure of helping others shop just came to Brandon one day. He decided he had a good eye for the dos and don'ts of dressing and could put his talent to good use.
"It has been on my mind for a while," he said. "I see people and I'm like, 'Ooh, they don't look good in that.' Some people need a little help putting their clothes together."
Brandon's fashion sense has led others to call on him for help. Even his sister asks her brother's opinion and often has him go shopping with her.
"I like to help her make decisions," the 19-year-old said.
When he isn't giving fashion advice or shopping, Brandon stays busy at school. Last year, he served as secretary of the job transition program and took on most of the responsibilities of the president and vice president.
"I dread to see him graduate," said Marie Edwards, the transition job coach at Harlem High who has taught Brandon for the past three years. "He is such a joy in the classroom. He's almost an overachiever."
Brandon said he loves the job transition program at Harlem High because of all he's learned.
"My favorite part of the program is going out and meeting people," said the son of Rebbie Collins, of Grovetown, and Mosley and Cheryl Germany, of Harlem. "I have really enjoyed working with the transportation office and Goodys."
The skills Brandon has learned from the program, which include clocking in and out, cooking and balancing a checkbook, were extremely helpful to him as he sought a job at McDonald's in Harlem a few months ago, he said. He works there part time.
In addition to his work responsibilities, Brandon keeps a master teacher birthday list and is responsible for printing and mailing birthday cards. He also has the responsibility of printing, posting and distributing the school's lunch menu and is a member of the school's Future Business Leaders of America and Brothers and Sisters United.
"We meet like brothers and sisters," he said of that group. "We work on special events. We just work together and act as one as brothers and sisters."