Published: May 01, 2008 11:10 am            

Spring Hill students visit career fair

Many high schools host career fairs to help students decide what they want to do for a living. Spring Hill Elementary School is getting a head start.

Each year, the school has professionals from the community come in and talk to children as young as 5 years old about their jobs.

“We want for the kids to get an idea of what’s out in the community for them to be excited about and aspire to,” said Sarah Flannery, home-school adviser who organized the annual event. “That way they can already start making goals for the future.”

Teachers said this really is the perfect age.

“This is really the best age when they start deciding which direction to take,” said Yolanda Farris, who teaches fourth grade. “Of course, they can change their minds later on, but this starts stirring the questions on careers.”

For more than a month, third- through fifth-grade teachers have been giving lessons on careers and job opportunities. Many had field trips to various places of employment. Others played pretend, having the kids pick a career and research what kind of education would be required, where they would live and what kind of money they would make.

On Wednesday, a little more than a dozen businesses came out to talk about what they do to the approximately 200 students in the school. Those included a nurse from Clark Memorial Hospital, officers from the Jeffersonville Police Department and teachers from Prosser School of Cosmetology.

“I think this is really good, because I didn’t even know most of this stuff,” Jaimie Weller, 11, said, looking in awe at the various booths in the gym. “Like, I didn’t know radiology didn’t have anything to do with radios, but instead it’s X-rays.”

“It teaches you things you never thought of being,” Shannon Billups, 11, said.

For others, the event helped put them on a career track.

“I’m getting a lot of ideas, like going to Prosser for hair and nails,” Kieanne Beaty, 11, said.

“I know I definitely like to be a cop or a reporter. I want to be both,” Colin Miller, 11, said. “A cop gets to carry a gun and a Taser and as a reporter, I can get some information to help people.”

As the fair ended, a few stragglers tried to stay behind to ask even more questions about the jobs. As the final group lined up to leave, many waved. Others were too busy going through their bags filled with items they picked up from the booths.

Those who visited the The Evening News and The Tribune’s booth said they not only learned a lot, but also had a good time.

“It was fun,” Billups said, grinning.

        

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