One hundred thirty-one Chocowinity Middle School eighth-grade students explored career opportunities in the area recently during a career fair held at the school.

Held in the CMS gym, the fair brought together eight community members to speak to the students about careers and organizations available in their local community. Kendra Ratliff, CMS guidance counselor, organized the event in an effort to give the students early exposure to exploring career opportunities available in their community, she said.

Ratliff said students were broken into groups and transitioned from speaker to speaker and were given information about careers. The students also learned other related topics important in the working world like expectations of employers, necessary traits and skills required to be successful, building resumes and what to consider when choosing an occupation. Among the eight vendors that participated in the event were: Wesley Jones, State Employees Credit Union branch manager; Seth Edwards, district attorney; Billy Respess, Chocowinity EMS paramedic; Erin Massie, 4-H N.C. Cooperative Extension Agent; Anthony Kent, National Guard sergeant; Johnny Williams, director of Fire Training Programs at Beaufort County Community College; Allison Crisp, occupational therapist; and Marleta Poffenberger, a veterinarian at Pamlico Animal Hospital.

“I thought it would be a great opportunity for students to meet members of the community and see what jobs are available in their local community, talk with them, ask them questions and to see a face with a profession.”

Massey said she talked to students about local opportunities to get involved in 4-H groups and how that involvement could serve the students well on their resumes when applying for college or employment. She also spoke to students about other advantages of joining 4-H, including the fact that it builds leadership and public speaking skills, important skills to have in a job setting, Massey said.

“I think it was effective (for the students), and I also used it as a tool to recruit students to serve as teen leaders in the 4-H Summer Day Camp,” Massey said. “Some kids that were interested actually contacted me. I think it’s a great thing to teach our children — to be mindful of careers and their future even before high school. I think it’s great CMS took the initiative to do this.”

After the fair, students had the chance to speak to those vendors that caught their interest in a more personal setting and ask further questions, Ratliff said. As the first of its kind at CMS, the event will continue in years to come, something Ratliff hopes to expand on and allow other grades to participate, she said.

Faith Modlin, an eighth-grader at CMS, said she especially enjoyed hearing from Kent about his involvement in the National Guard, as well as the other vendors. Modlin commented on the fair’s effectiveness in showcasing available opportunities to students.

“I thought what they had to say and what they showed us was really interesting,” Modlin said. “I thought it was pretty informative. It was nice, and I thought it was well put together too.”