At their annual Career Day last week, Enka Intermediate School students took in the huge diversity of professions that thrive in their community.
Students’ parents, teacher’s spouses, and folks from around Candler set up in classrooms and outside the school to share information about their careers with the fifth and sixth graders. Presenters included surveyors, an author, a chemist, a journalist, a veterinarian, barbers, real estate agents, a therapist, a detective, firefighters, and many more. Many volunteers gave 15-minute mini presentations to each class, while others gave more in-depth overviews to larger groups. The kids got to see a ladder truck, ambulance, and other heavy-duty vehicles outside, while inside they got to watch chemical reactions in the cafeteria and hear motivational career advice in the technology room.
“It’s a little bit of everything,” said fifth grade school counselor Jody Montrie. “And the students really get the chance to engage with all these careers and think about their futures. The parents and other volunteers love coming to this event as much as the kids.”
The overarching theme is curiosity, she added.
“Most kids don’t really know what they want to do when they grow up, and even learning what you’re not interested in is a good thing,” Ms. Montrie said. “When you stay curious, you learn more and you grow more.”