Career day prepares students for working life
ST. IGNATIUS — Students filed into the St. Ignatius school gymnasium last week with bright, smiles to meet and greet more than 20 potential employers in what family and consumer science teacher and career fair organizer Terry Cable called “a worthwhile and necessary” event.
Now in its 16th year, the career fair begins with a survey of high school students on which careers they’d like to see at the fair.
“Right out of the gate, the students have input on who gets to speak,” Cable said.
This year, 21 careers ranging from physical therapist, television news anchor, graphic design, auto mechanic, forestry, artistry and sales and marketing were represented. Students filled out a worksheet during the day, helping them to “ask the right questions and get informed as to the different educational and career opportunities in our area,” Cable said.
Senior and soon-to-be University of Montana student Nikko Alexander said he’d been at the event since 7:30 in the morning, helping to set up the booths and organize the event.
“It’s pretty cool,” Alexander said of the event. “Everyone walks around and experiences the different types of jobs they could get into and what careers or colleges are available. It’s a neat thing.”
Salish Kootenai College recruiter Nicole Stiffarm was impressed with both St. Ignatius’ facilities and students.
“I met some pretty amazing students,” she said after the fair. “I met a couple of them who stuck out, one who was intensely focused on becoming a lawyer — her drive was impressive — and another who was interested in teaching foreign language abroad. They were only sophomores, but they were amazing. I was really impressed with them and I wish I had that kind of drive and focus when I was a sophomore.”
As amazed as Stiffarm was with the event, Cable said it was only a small part of what St. Ignatius School District does to prepare students for the real world.
Every junior in the high school participates in a job-shadow during the fall, and seniors do mock interviews to prepare for the real thing. Every other year, the school converts the gym into a mini-society complete with bankers, car dealers, the power company and many other facets of everyday life. Students must complete a budget for housing, food, vehicles and select a career.
“It’s worthwhile and necessary for multiple reasons,” Cable said. “Since we began doing this, we’ve seen our students gain a greater understanding of what it is to graduate from high school and go out and make a life. They’re also more aware of schooling options in our valley and how it pertains to them.
“They’re just getting a lot of exposure to the career world and the skills they have to have, and the backside of that is that we’ve gotten a lot of feedback from career professionals, commenting on how much better the students have become over the years.”
Cable added that several students have gained full-time job placement from the career fair in the past. One current senior did a job shadow in the fall at Ronan Auto Body and has already landed a full-time job for after graduation.
“We really feel like we are making an impact,” Cable continued. “It’s fun to see.”