Students planning for their future with a career day at Jefferson Somerset

Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.

Middle and high school students at Jefferson Somerset were visited by several guest speakers on Thursday, Feb. 27.

The guest speakers arrived at the school around 8:30 a.m. in order to speak with the students for the school's Career Day Expo.

The expo, hosted by the school's Parent Liaison Tomura Byrd-Mathis, offered the students a chance to hear about the different career choices that are in Jefferson County.

The expo's guest speakers were Jefferson County Fire Rescue Chief Derrick Burrus, Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputy Maurice Arnold and Diane Hall, a member of FAMU's School of Journalism.

Chief Burrus provided the students with a history of fire fighting within the United States and shared the ways which having a local fire fighting agency benefits the community – and in turn, the families and friends of those who either enlist as paid or volunteer firefighters.

Deputy Arnold shared the personal benefits and achievements that can come from a career in law enforcement or the military, drawing from his own experience to feature the ways students could achieve career success after graduation.

Diane Hall focused on the importance of not allowing fear to hold back students who may be interested in pursuing a college degree and a career field that requires higher education.

All in all, the high school students were encouraged by each speaker to “have a game plan” for their life – to plan for life beyond the classroom and work towards that longterm goal.

“You can't just dream,” said Hall. “You've got to put your dream into action.”