 |
|
|
|
|
Career day breaks stereotypes for students at Branham, Del Mar
By Moryt Milo
A taste of life after high school is what students at Branham and Del Mar high schools experienced during career day, as a diverse group of speakers volunteered part of their busy mornings to talk about their jobs on March 15.
At Branham High School more than 40 speakers--ranging from a fireman and an accountant to a porcelain finisher and cardiologist--offered insight into their working world, as they explained to students what they did and why they enjoyed doing it.
The primary purpose of the event was to expose the students to a rich variety of career options that they can consider as they enter college or vocational schools.
For Branham junior Amber Donecho, it was her second time listening to the speakers discuss their day-to-day working lives.
"Last year [during career day] I heard a nurse speak," she said. "She was so passionate about her work, it made me think about a career in nursing, which was something I had never thought about before."
Branham sophomore Montae Boughton was also looking forward to this year's event.
"Last year I heard a computer technician speak and I am considering it as a career," he said. "It's a chance to plan ahead."
Branham senior Tim Overholser said, "I listened to an engineer talk and realized I didn't want to go in that direction."
This is what the event is all about, said Branham High School Home and School Club Career Day organizer and parent Roxann Kontzer. It is an opportunity for young people to get a glimpse into the lives of real people and learn about careers that might interest them.
"The day is a way to help students formulate how to make decisions in their lives," Branham High School Principal Iris Berke said. "It gets students to think, early on, about their future and what is important."
It also helps to expand their horizon, by eliminating many of the stereotypes, she said. Students see the speakers and hear them explain what they do and the job becomes real.
During this year's event, Elizabeth Kaylor was a prime example of how career day presenters defy stereotypes. She surprised students by telling them she is a plumber who makes $100,000 a year in a job that focuses primarily on new construction.
"What I do goes beyond unplugging and fixing toilets and sinks," she said.
Other speakers, like nuclear cardiologist technologist Howard Teng, told students they should study as hard as they can because having a wealth of skills can lead to unexpected opportunities. Teng takes 3-D photo images of unhealthy hearts and bone cancer, which doctors review as they look for medical solutions.
"I save lives in the medical profession," he said. "But I didn't have to become a doctor to do it. The work I do didn't even exist when I came out of college. So don't give up your education."
One of Branham's speakers who had all the students fascinated was Federal Bureau of Investigations agent Eric LaMoe. He brought his bulletproof vest and several weapons and passed around his FBI identification. He spoke about the history of the FBI, using FBI lingo and explaining what distinguishes the FBI from the local police.
But he said, "[The FBI's] powers are not in the guns and handcuffs we use. It's in people telling us what they know. If we are viewed as the bad guy, no one will tell us anything, and we won't be very effective in our jobs."
All the speakers emphasized the importance of good people skills, whether the speakers were restaurant owners, social workers or engineers. They all said it was an important asset for success.
"It was interesting to see the people and hear what they had to say," Branham senior Kristin Roberson said. "The people seemed honest, which made everything seem genuine."
The students at Del Mar High School also listened to an array of speakers. It was the first time the event was held at the high school, and it was sponsored by the Campbell--San Jose West Rotary Club.
Del Mar High School Principal Lisa Udell said, "This event should be a rewarding experience for all our students. They will learn firsthand about jobs and career opportunities."
The speakers at Del Mar High School stressed the same elements for success--education, people skills, seeking out an interesting job and choosing a career that can make a difference in the world.
The importance of staying in school hit home with Del Mar sophomore Frances Kuehnis, who thought the day was time well spent.
For sophomore Zach Cox the day provided an opportunity to listen and think about what he might want to pursue as a career.
"I listened to an ophthalmologist and thought he was very interesting," Cox said. "It gave me a lot of ideas."
The students also asked a variety of questions. Some wanted to know what the jobs paid. Others wanted to know what courses were required. Some asked where the speakers went to college, what determined their career choices and if their job required a lot of travel.
"The day opened their eyes to new experiences and to some careers the students might have never thought about," Del Mar High School teacher Kathy Childs said.
|
|
|
|
Campbell, California
