Gentry schools hold first annual career day

Photo by Randy Moll Melvin Leroy, of McKee Foods, spoke to students about the rewards and challenges of a truck driving career at the Career Day held at Gentry High School on Thursday, March 10, 2016.
Photo by Randy Moll Melvin Leroy, of McKee Foods, spoke to students about the rewards and challenges of a truck driving career at the Career Day held at Gentry High School on Thursday, March 10, 2016.

GENTRY -- Students at Gentry High School and Middle School had opportunity to gather information about a variety of careers at a special day, set aside specifically for that purpose, at the high school on Thursday during the school district's first annual career day.

Students began their day in the high school auditorium, where Mike Harvey of the Northwest Arkansas Council spoke to students about making plans for career choices. He urged students to focus on areas of interest but not to get too specific with job choices too soon. And he suggested students do some research into the job market and look at the career paths available to them.

Harvey told students that only 30 percent of careers require a four-year college degree and pointed out that the most important qualities employers seek in employees are soft skills like being reliable, self motivated and caring about customers and clients.

Cheryl Pickering of Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative re-emphasized points made by Harvey, saying students should consider their interests and research the job opportunities out there and consider what it takes to achieve their career goals. She also told students to be careful what they post to social media and how they manage their credit because mistakes there can limit job opportunities later.

Pickering said gaining job skills by working, doing internships and volunteering are important to prepare students to obtain jobs in their desired career fields later.

Following the assembly, students spent most of their day in classrooms with professionals from a wide variety of career fields learning about those jobs and what it takes in the way of education and experience to get a job in a desired career field. Numerous representatives from the military, colleges and technical schools were also on hand in the gym to visit with students about careers and career training.

Though parent turnout was low, an evening session gave parents the opportunity to ask questions and gain information about career paths and what they could do to help their children obtain their career goals.

The day was a part of a new focus in public school education to give students the career training and skills necessary to be sucessful afer graduation even if students choose not to pursue a college education.

General News on 03/16/2016