That is the dilemma eighth-graders face as they choose next year’s high school classes and plan for their futures after high school.
In response to the need for information and exposure to career options, New Century Middle School hosted Career Day Oct. 30. Held at the school each year, Career Day gives the students the opportunity to meet and talk with a wide range of business and vocational leaders from across the county.
Sensing the need for business and school interaction, New Century’s ENCORE team — which offers students exploratory options in business, music, art and health — called on Moore County businesses and educational representatives for help. Response was overwhelming with nearly 50 people coming to Career Day to meet with the students.
Vocations represented were varied and included social work, automotive, counseling, nursing, cosmetology, veterinary, banking, law and law enforcement and military. Counselors and career experts from Sandhills Community College were also on hand to answer questions.
Students were given interview sheets and met with at least five different career representatives, asking them questions about school courses needed for the job, the type of hours involved, pay scale, rewards, and challenges.
They also enjoyed presentations and group question-and-answer sessions with Union Pines counselor Mary Ruth Whitaker and Pinckney Academy’s Dr. Robin Moore, who gave them information on the different “tracks” of courses from which they could choose and career options related to those tracks.
Aaron Cornell, a student at New Century, was excited about the information he gleaned from Kathy Wright and Pinckney’s computer technology representatives.
“That’s me,” he said. “That’s what I’m going to do.”
Other students did push-ups for the ROTC commanders to earn Army/Navy lanyards, while still others discussed the finer points of law work with attorney Carol White.
At the banking display, one student asked David Vermeulen, trust and wealth management adviser with BB&T, and Lee Leonard, city executive with Centura, if it was difficult to get into banking.
“Not if you’re willing to study, work hard, and enjoy serving others,” Vermeulen said.
Sgt. Richard Maness of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol talked with students about the rewards and challenges of his job.
“I never knew you had to learn so much to be in law enforcement,” one girl remarked.
Student representatives from Pinckney’s Culinary Arts and Cosmetology departments encouraged the eighth-graders to learn all they could to be well prepared for high school. “It will really make a difference,” said a representative.
“You will really use what you’re learning now.”
