So, what do you want to be when you grow up?
Students at Cloudland Elementary began pondering that question earlier this school year and on Friday they got the chance to meet members of the community who have jobs in a wide variety of careers.
Students in the third through sixth grades at Cloudland Elementary participated in Career Day by visiting different booths to learn some of the ins and outs of various professions.
This year marks the fifth year that CES Counselor Brandon Young has coordinated the event and while some may think elementary school is a little early for children to start thinking of their future, Young disagrees.
“I think you are waiting too late if you are waiting to high school to start slimming down your career choices,” Young said.
Students today have many more options available to them in school than previous generations did. Students who want to pursue a traditional four-year college education must make sure they are getting the classes and grades they need to get accepted. For those who are considering technical fields such as welding or mechanics, the Carter County School System provides a variety of Career Technical Education (CTE) programs to help them prepare for technical or trade school after graduation.
In order to make sure they are on the right path for where the career they want, students must begin looking at their options before they get to high school, Young said.
As a lead in to Career Day, Young spent time working with the participating students talking about career options and goals. Students also took a personality assessment test to look at what careers they might be best suited for, Young said.
Each year, Young reaches out to businesses and professionals in the community to spend part of their day talking to the students about their careers.
“It is wonderful to see the people in the community come together and do this for the children,” he said.
Among the various local businesses and organizations who participated in Career Day this year were: Northeast Community Credit Union, Roan Highlands Nursing Home, the Carter County Sheriff’s Office, the Elizabethton Star, WJHL, Davis Girls Peach Shed, Sycamore Shoals State Park, Bill McNeely’s Christmas Tree Farm, The Gideons International, professional photographer Marie Gouge, professional singer Tryphena Layman, Cloudland High School agriculture teacher Lauren Turbyfill, the Carter County School Bus Garage, Royston Auctions, Cloudland High School welding teacher Sam Potter, and Paul Buchanan of the Avery County Emergency Management Agency and Avery County Fire Association.
The students spent time visiting each career station asking questions of the various professionals.
At the Elizabethton Star booth, many of the students wanted to know things like how long it takes to put out the newspaper each day, how a reporter gets information for stories and if you have to be good at spelling to work at the newspaper. Some students asked what the best and worst parts of a reporters job are while others wanted know if reporters ever got scared when they had to cover a crime like a murder.