Schenectady high schoolers live a day in the life of the city's first responders. Our Sabina Kuriakose has more on what they learned.

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SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- Quanasia Williams is sitting in the the driver's seat of her future. She's along for the ride with Schenectady police officers Ryan Thorne and Michael Crounse to find out what it's like to be in blue.

"I always wanted to be like a cop or something in the law field," she said.

Still, Williams said she actually faces pressure from friends not to take part in programs working with police.

She explained, "Some people will say, I'm not talking to her, she's a snitch, she's going against us and stuff like that."

But it's those exact attitudes organizers want to change - teaching kids life skills while building bonds with law enforcement and city officials. High school senior Quanasia Williams is one of 50 students taking part in a day long job shadow program. And this, is the real deal.

The kids get to see all aspects of the job, from the good stuff to the cleanup. Organizers hope not only will it give them an appreciation for the job, but maybe inspire a dream as well.

"It's not everyday you get to put on a firefighter's outfit, especially since the job is so hard," said high schooler Brandon Planty.

Learning on the job means students get to see how classroom lessons prep them for the workplace.

"I think they're going to come away with it much more impressed, much more aware of what the duties and requirements would be," said Schenectady High School counselor, Lee Hall.

Lt. Joshua Gioeli said, "It's good for them and actually have some hands-on experience so when they see us out in the community they actually know what our job is."

And maybe one day make it their own.