Written by: Isabella Elliott
Salem Middle School students are going to get a chance to explore a variety of careers at the annual SMS Career Day on March 20.
STEAM Lab Director Jessica Morgan and Kristin Bailey, who teaches 8th grade College and Career Readiness, have planned a career fair for the past two years. The event is for students to find possibilities for future career paths. It is also a good way to bring community members into the school to share about their careers.
Morgan said they have more than 110 guests including dog groomers, nurse practitioners, surveyors, physical therapists, manufacturing employees, cosmetologists, videographers, tattoo artists, etc.
“Students really enjoy the career fair, they enjoy interacting with the community and learning about jobs they never thought about before,” said Morgan. “I think the career fair is important because it gets the kids thinking about what they want to do in the future.”
With the new graduation requirements going into effect next school year, career fairs help students figure out what classes they want to take in high school so they can get on the right pathway.
Bailey said last year students gave positive feedback after the event and said they all learned something new, which is what they had hoped would happen. She said it also allows students to ask questions to experts that may not be answered in the regular classroom.
“The career fair allows students to meet people from all different careers,” she said. “Students may see a career at the Career Fair that they didn't even know existed.”