Eighth-grade Career Fair full of interesting opportunities
By Donna O'Neil, Staff writer
doneil@williamsonherald.com
The Ag Center was a hub of activity last week as eighth-graders from Williamson County Schools and Franklin Special Schools had the opportunity to meet with area business leaders and high school course representatives at the annual Career Fair.
Brentwood High School counselor Charlotte Baird said the idea behind the Career Fair, “is to instill in children the thought of lifelong learning and to go beyond thinking in the moment.
Michelle Fuller, a counselor at Woodland Middle School, said, “The Career Fair offers a variety of different career clusters that students may not have realized were available.”
Jill Crucini, counselor at Sunset Middle School, explained the Career Fair is an opportunity for the students to touch many different opportunities at once. “It gives them an opportunity to explore an area of interest.”
Chandler, a Page Middle School student, visited the WBHS booth, featuring the Brentwood High School cable channel. Chandler likes making videos and has posted several on YouTube. He was interested in what the people at WBHS had to say, because he wants to be a director or producer.
Freedom Middle School students Isabella and Ashley had a chance to chat with the people at The Actor’s School. Isabella said, “I love acting and want an acting career. I was looking for pointers.”
Ashley changed her mind after visiting the booth. “I had only acted in one production before, but I am looking more into the acting option now.”
Murfreesboro Road Sonic manager Mark Qualls was quizzed about what he looks for in an employee. When asked, he said, “You have to be 16 to work at Sonic because students who are 14 and 15 can only work until 7 p.m. As an employee I am looking for someone who is eager to learn and who looks presentable. Among the benefits to working at Sonic are that we offer flexible schedules and we are a fun place to work.”
Ethan Allison a senior at Fairview High School represented the Fairview media program. He talked with several students throughout to try to “get them interested in joining the media path.”
When he graduates in June he will be headed of to the University of Alabama where he plans to study biology, with a media influence.
First-time attendee Ken Johnson, an eighth-grade math teacher at Hillsboro Middle School, said “I think this exposes students to other opportunities than those in their day-to-day situations. It gets them out to see what high school can offer.”
He said that students came to the event armed with questions for the exhibitors. When they got back to school they were to submit their responses, followed by a written essay on what they learned.
Bailbonds Software Solutions owner Daniel Brittain Dugger showed off his new software package, but was also exhibiting how just taking a look around can change your life when you least expect it.
Dugger told of how he was driving through Franklin one day and looked up to see the Grumpy’s Bail Bonds billboard. He had an idea, which married bail bonding and software development, which is his forte. After a short-time some conversations with industry leaders and some software development, he released a new product that is widely used throughout the bail bonding industry.
His advice to students was to look for inspiration in everything.
Posted on: 11/26/2009
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