A doctor, nurse, family-business owner, college professor, architect, and small-engine repairman were among 23 community professionals speaking to eighth graders at the James E. Bazzell Middle School and sophomores at the Allen County-Scottsville High School Thursday. The presentations were part of the annual Operation Preparation event---a time designed to bring the real-world to today’s students.
“To be a doctor, you have about 11 more years of school after graduation,” explained Dr. Eric Fisher as he spoke to aspiring health care professionals at the high school. “That what I had to do to become a doctor.”
The community professionals represented agriculture, architecture and construction, arts--audio/visual and life skills, business management and administration, education and training, health sciences, manufacturing, marketing, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) related fields, and transportation, distribution, and logistics.
The career-cluster areas reflected student interests---interests compiled by counselors at both schools. Once interests were determined, the counselors and district staff assembled professionals to address the students. Students were given the opportunity to attend three 30-minute sessions at the middle school and two 30-minutes sessions at the high school in which the speakers explained their profession, outlined the steps to take to go into that field, and fielded questions from the students.
“Listen and learn,” was the words of advice of Jessica Chaney Harper, an agri-business speaker from Chaney’s Dairy Barn in Bowling Green. “Be focused. If you focus you will achieve a lot more in life. Make connections. A lot of times it’s also about who you know. So make connections while you are in high school and make connections in college.”
The professionals shared many details with students---information about classes the students should be taking in high school, to education and training requirements, to the salary one could expect to make in the profession. Questions from students ranged from “what’s it like” in a field to “should I take” a particular class in college.
The speakers shared from the heart, noting that being successful in a chosen career would require dedication and determination.
“I’ve gotten off work at night and had to be back at work in less than eight hours,” explained nurse Patricia Davis “It’s hard work but it’s rewarding work. It’s rewarding taking care of your patients and being there for them.”
Operation Preparation is a collaborative effort between the Kentucky Department of Education and the Department of Workforce Development to provide an opportunity for schools and communities to work in partnership and focus attention on the importance of planning for college and career.