An event at a local school asked students to look forward

A3

Editor's note
Candice Mac Lean

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

1 Comment(s)

Last week dozens of Grade 8 students in Quispamsis pondered what their futures would hold.

The teenagers were taking part in Quispamsis Middle School’s Career Exploration Day, which saw more than 20 careerists give presentations to the students.

Budding veterinarians, chefs, teachers and zoo keepers sat attentively, listening to local professionals talk about what a day is like in their jobs.

Teacher and organizer Diane O’Connor explained that the career event was held to lead students on a path.

“They’re going to high school and they have to make choices that will affect them when they get out of school,” she said. “We want them to know earlier than later.”

Presenters included a firefighter, veterinarian, engineer, parole officer, hair dresser and truck driver.

O’Connor said it was important to organizers that a variety of career paths were represented.

“We wanted to have some traditional careers and some non-traditional,” she said. “We didn’t want the students to think there are only certain careers to aim for. There are all kinds of kids with different interests.”

In one presentation, students were asked which career they wanted to pursue and, while almost 10 hands shot in the air, no one had the same answer. Every student had a different goal.

O’Connor was right to branch out into the less predictable careerists, who aren’t always included in an event like this one.

At the end of the morning, students walked away armed with brochures, pamphlets, pens and stickers – but also with an idea of where their future may lead. O’Connor said the purpose of the event was to give students the tools to choose a profession for their future. Some students weren’t sure what interested them the most – and O’Connor said that’s OK too.

Candice Mac Lean is the editor of KV Style. Reach her at maclean.candice@kvstyle.com.