Oak Grove Elementary students explore future careers through interactive event
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)-- Students from Oak Grove Elementary explored different careers in a hands-on, engaging way.
Students met guest speakers from a variety of professions and learn what those jobs are really like.
Each student was able to pick careers they were interested in and got a personalized schedule through Missouri Connections, so each student's experience is a little different.
Students then rotated to new sessions every 15 minutes, following their own schedules and moving between classrooms.
Alison Byrd, a school counselor at Oak Grove, said it’s always exciting to see students exploring so many different interests.
With high school just around the corner, Byrd believes it’s especially important for them to start thinking about what classes they might want to take.
“It gives them an early view of this is something I want to do and here are some ways I can get there and just to have to goals ahead of time is always a great idea to set that path out,” Byrd said.
Right now, most career exploration days take place in the spring, but Byrd said they’re hoping to expand those opportunities and bring in more professionals throughout the year.
She added how events like these are especially important for older students.
“So we have a military professional coming, we have someone from college coming, we have a Hillyard representative coming and they will tell kids what can be done after high school,” Byrd added.
For sixth grader Claire Albers, the day helped her learn more about what an athletic trainer does and how they help people.
“My brother recently got hurt and I wanted to see how the doctors helped him get better and that's’ really how I chose to do this,” Albers said.
While she’s considering athletic training, she said she’s still leaning more toward becoming a doctor in the future.
Albers also thinks more students should take part in events like this, especially since many of her friends are interested in medical careers.
Another sixth grader, Zariah Huitt-Johnson, said she thought the career day was a great opportunity to see what different jobs are really like.
“It is a really cool idea to see how we would do it if we were in that place in the future so I think its a great idea to be a part of it and so far I only met a nurse and I really like that,” Johnson said.
For Johnson, one of the biggest takeaways was learning how careers can combine helping people with working in science and technology.
“I like both science and I like talking to people so I think that is something I learnt from the career day,” Johnson said.
She also encouraged more students to attend events like this, especially those who aren’t sure what they want to do yet.
Johnson stressed how important it is to start exploring career interests early, or at least have a general idea of what you might want to do in the future.
