Aubrey Middle holds first Career Exploration Day
The students at Aubrey Middle School got an early look at career options during a career fair on Monday.
Director of CTE and Accountability Dr. Jonathan Lee explained he wanted to give students an opportunity to consider life after graduation as early as possible.
“We want to expose students at the middle school level to as many opportunities as we can from a career perspective,” Lee said. “The sooner we expose them to these possibilities, the more they can start to think about what they want to do with the rest of their life [and] what programs they want to look into at the high school.”
Booths included careers in banking, journalism, media production, police and fire, and several others.
“In my own educational experience, you have at-risk kids who didn’t get in trouble because they knew they couldn’t get into the job they want if they did,” Aubrey Fire Department EMS Captain Cliff Brooks said. “There are a lot of good reasons for this.
Starting them as young as you can is a good way to introduce them to their options.”
Ladomedia International owner LaDonna Colon agreed.
“Exposure is really important, and often times if you relate it to what they’re interested in, you can show them they can do it today,” Colon said. “You don’t have to wait till you’re an adult to create something special.”
To fill the gaps in careers not on display, Tevin Williams from Workforce Solutions brought several VR headsets loaded with a collection of simulated experiences.
“Today, they get a chance to experience the VR headsets and explore different career paths,” Williams said. “Most ... sixth graders don’t have an idea of what they want to do. The headsets give them an opportunity to see what they can work on in the near future.”
The headsets featured anything from replacing an EV battery to repairing a roof or assist- ing with a knee surgery.
“They have a plethora of different simulations they can get into and have a starting point,” Williams said. “They seem happy and overwhelmed because they weren’t expecting to get a chance to experience a career.”
As the students made their way between the booths, several left with ideas about how they could impact the workforce in the future.
“I’m enjoying trying to see what I want to do when I grow up,” Caylee Dawson said. “It’s interesting that we are able to do this so we can start figuring out what we want to do even though we’re in middle school. The behavioral science stood out to me because I think I’d like to become a therapist and help other people.”
Angel Gills already had an idea for her future on the way into the gym.
“The nursing and things have stood out to me, but there are interesting things here I may like,” Gills said. “I want to be a traveling CNA. It's been a dream of mine, and I’ve figured it out more after today.”
Lee said teachers gave the students a collection of questions beforehand but gave them opportunities to think up their own as well.
“They come in here and have been immediately approaching the representatives and asking great questions,” Lee said. “I see a lot of smiling faces, and I’ve asked some students some questions themselves and they seem to really be getting a lot out of it.”
Several of the professionals manning their booths concurred with Lee.
“From what I’ve seen, they came up curious or interested, but by the time they left, they were really thinking about it, so whatever we’re talking about piqued their interest,” Brooks said. “If you wait until they’re in high school, some of their minds are already made up. If you can get them interested in something in this age, it directs them, not necessarily into a specific career path, but in a direction they may want to go.”
Don Richmond represents DATCU at the Aubrey Middle School Career Exploration Fair on Monday. All of the students had the opportunity to make their way through the gym to speak with the vendors about their professions. Basil Gist/The Post-Signal
