“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
It can be a daunting question for teenagers. But high school is as good a place as any to start thinking about those questions. So on April 23, Nackawic Senior High School hosted a career fair to encourage younger students to start thinking about their careers, and to help older students refine their career paths.
The school invited 17 organizations to participate, exposing high school students, and Grade 8 students from Nackawic Middle School, to career information in such fields as health care, education, engineering, transportation, skilled trades, and forestry.
“Career-connected learning can provide students with optimism for their futures,” said Sarah McLellan, a career pathway planning transition coach at the school. “Having a plan for a future career pathway can help students focus on their course selection, their extra curriculars—like volunteering and part-time work—and may provide them with goals for their lives after high school.”
Participating organizations
| ARPFNB (Foresters Association) | Horizon Health | NBCC | Social Workers Association |
| ASD-West | JD Irving | New Brunswick Roofing Contractors Association | Working NB |
| AV Mill | McDonough MFG / BID | Northern Construction | |
| Forest NB | Medavie NB | Peterbilt Atlantic | |
| GNB | NB Med Lab Tech Association (NBSMLT) | Road Builders Association |
In addition to information tables and activity stations set up by the 17 organizations, students attended a presentation by Working NB on in-demand professions in the province, and the outlook for the New Brunswick labour market.
“I am passionate about serving and protecting my community, and I see a career in law enforcement as the perfect way to make a positive impact.”
Grade 12 student Emma Hovey
The career fair seemed to have the desired effect on students.
“Although I am not 100% sure of what career I would like to pursue, the career fair gave me the chance to explore some of the options for my future,” said Nackawic Senior High School Grade 10 student Tyson Farrell. “I enjoyed learning about careers I had never heard of.”
For Grade 9 student Ally Lewis, the fair helped her solidify her career focus: “I would like to become an oncologist. I am very interested in cancer and helping those with it, so I enjoyed having little chats with all the different people, especially Horizon.”
And Grade 12 student Emma Hovey already has a firm grasp on her career trajectory: “I am passionate about serving and protecting my community, and I see a career in law enforcement as the perfect way to make a positive impact. What I enjoyed most about the career fair was the variety of careers that were displayed, even if it was not the career path I’m pursuing.”
“I want to thank the students in attendance,” said Marika Brown, a coordinator for Forest NB, one of the organizations in attendance. “They were such a well-mannered and inquisitive bunch, and their efforts to engage with organizations and ask questions did not go unnoticed. Hats off to them.”