Careers class explores opportunity

Do you remember the time when you were trying to decide ‘what you were going to be when you grew up’?

My parents raised me to love God and country, and when I was in about fourth grade, I was trying to decide what I wanted to be.

The Sound of Music was my favorite movie, so I decided I wanted to be a nun. However, my mother crushed my dreams when she explained that Southern Baptists could not be nuns.

So, I had to come up with another idea, and I did. John Wayne was my hero and I decided I was going to be a soldier. Again, she enlightened me and told me girls could not be soldiers.

However, as time passed, laws were changed and by the time I really needed to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up, I was able to join the military.

Fortunately, today our children do not have to decide what they are going to be based on their favorite movie or movie star.

For instance, our students at the Freshman Campus have the wonderful opportunity of attending a Careers Class that educates them on the many job opportunities afforded them in life.

And, as you might realize, this class is not a conventional class. Nope, throughout the school year, the students get to interact with many different people in various career fields.

On this particular day, our students at the Freshman Campus were experiencing a very different class…they had visitors from Cannon Air Force Base. But, these were no ordinary visitors…they had four legs, fur all over their bodies, and their noses were a bit longer and wetter than most.

You guessed it — they were dogs. However, they were not just ordinary dogs, they are dogs with jobs — military working dogs. And, they brought their security force handlers with them to show our students just one of the many careers the Air Force has to offer.

Law, public safety and corrections, and security are the careers our students are learning about this semester.

Not only are they learning about these career opportunities in one class, but in their English class, the ninth graders are reading ‘To Kill A Mocking Bird’. This classic book focuses on two children that are being raised by their father who is a lawyer. As events take place, there is a trial where the children become aware of prejudices, crime, and law enforcement. What a great idea — to have classes compliment each other in their curriculum.

And, the great ideas don’t stop there. The students are learning about various career fields this year so when they enter High School next year, they will know what classes to take.

Now, students don’t have to make career decisions based on number one rated movies and movie stars; they have real people to talk to and learn from who can help them with this important decision…what a wonderful concept.