Maggotty High School students benefit from career day

KINGSTON — Students of Maggotty High School in St. Elizabeth were exposed to and informed about job prospects in various fields at the institution’s recent career day.

Held under the theme: ‘Dream, Explore, Discover: The Time is Now!’, the event, organised by the Guidance Counselling Department featured displays in fields such as media, banking, education, law enforcement and the fire services, with resource persons on hand to respond to queries from students and provide guidance to help them make the right choices.

Guidance Counsellor at the school, Avia Neil, said the event seeks to widen the minds of the students to many career choices available. “We have realised that some of our students seem to lack direction. Some are a bit limited in their thinking, so we planned this career day for the students to help them to broaden their spectrum of thinking and to be open to different careers,” she told JIS News.

She noted that the display and dialogue format was employed for the first time to keep the students interested and allow them to mingle and ask questions.

While the day was open to all students, activities were specifically geared towards those in Grades nine to 11, who are selecting subjects, which will take them into particular careers.

“Grade nine students, at this point, are going to make a choice as to their career so it’s important for them to be exposed to different areas. Grade eleven students need this final career day to give them a push as they go out into the world of work,” explained Vice Principal, Megan Foster.

Samantha Cornwall, a Grade 11 student, told JIS News that she benefitted “greatly” from the event.   “I’m a bit more knowledgeable about particular professions I might choose in the future. I have an idea of what and where exactly I’m going to study but I was able to get some information on my dream of becoming a mathematician,” she said.

A mechanical engineer in the making, Grade Nine student, Oshane Williams, was thankful to the JIS for providing information on the subjects he needs to study to enter the field.

Former Acting Radio Manager at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), Alva Lindsay-Blair, said that in making career choices, students should “think of using what you have at your fingertips that are available to you."

She noted for example, that with St. Elizabeth being the bread basket capital of Jamaica, students could look to the field of agriculture.

Participating organisations included the Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (RBTT), HEART/NTA, Bethlehem Moravian College, Northern Caribbean University, JIS, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Jamaica Defence Force, and the Jamaica Fire Brigade.

By CHRISTINE ADE-GOLD, JIS Special Projects/PR Assistant