Details

Where else but at a Dublin Middle School Career Fair can you try your hand at welding a pipe, practice giving chest compressions, learn the ins and outs of real estate, ride a hoverboard, and even get a manicure?

Though graduation may still be years away, our 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Graders are already looking toward their futures, gaining insights into the careers and educational paths that lie ahead.

With more than 30 industry representatives on-site, students explored career paths in healthcare, community services, construction, business, law enforcement, teaching, and more. In fact, throughout the day, professionals provided hands-on experiences that connected various fields to the advanced educational options available at Dublin High School, the Dublin City Schools College and Career Academy, and Oconee Fall Line Technical College.

“Today we’re experiencing lots of different jobs,” shared Erin James, a Dublin Middle School 6th Grader who is still deciding whether she’d like to be a teacher, a nurse or a police officer. “That way, we’ll know what we want to be when we grow up. And, we’ll know what classes we need to take at Dublin High School and in college in order to successfully do those jobs.”

Taylor Daniel, also in 6th Grade and aspiring to become a hairstylist, was thrilled by the chance to see so many careers up close. “Some people don’t get to do this at their high school, let alone middle school,” she said. “So the fact that we get to have a Career Day at Dublin Middle School is incredibly important because it’s exposing us to different types of jobs. Some of my classmates want to be nurses, police officers, or dentists. Today, they were able to talk with people in those roles to find out what they need to do to have that job.”

Career Day is part of a larger vision led by Workforce Coordinator Eric Cannada, who strives to introduce students to a broad range of careers available right in Dublin-Laurens County.

“Today, they’re learning about what courses they’ll need in high school and how dual-enrollment options with Oconee Fall Line can prepare them for certification. It’s about our students understanding the paths available to them now so they can start planning their futures,” he said.

Cannada emphasizes the dual importance of GPA. In addition to standing for grade point average, he encourages middle schoolers to begin thinking about their Grades, their Plans and their Actions so that when they get to high school, they have a clear direction of what they want to do and know the path they need to take to reach their goals.

Dublin Middle School’s Principal, Dr. Willie Batts, was equally enthusiastic, describing the day as a turning point for many of his students.

“We want to expose our students to everything that our community has to offer, to make sure their minds are open to all the possibilities—even though they may live in a small, rural town, they can be whatever they want in life,” he said. Reflecting on the significance of Career Day, Batts added, “It’s just like watching my son score the game-winning touchdown. To see my students walking around, asking questions, getting their little minds fed—it’s inspiring. I can’t wait to hear tomorrow about the new dreams they’re pursuing because I guarantee you that list has changed after today.”

As Career Day came to a close, students left with not only new ideas about what they might want to pursue but also a clear sense of the classes and programs that will help them achieve those goals. This experience has undoubtedly set them on a path of discovery, helping each student envision how they can make their aspirations a reality right here in Dublin.

A special thank you goes to our presenters for attending today’s Career Fair and exposing our students to an array of opportunities: Advantage Rehab; Bank of Dudley; Chelle Realty; Citizens Bank; City of Dublin City Council, Fire, Natural Gas and Police; Dublin City Schools College and Career Academy’s Agriculture, Business, Construction, Cosmetology, Food & Consumer Science, JROTC, Public Safety, Mechatronics, Teaching as a Profession and Work-Based Learning; EMT; Easter Seals; Fairview Park Hospital; Farmers Furniture; GayCo Healthcare; Happy Tails Mobile Vet,; Middle Georgia Family Dentistry; OFTC Admissions, Automotive, Construction and Welding; Carl Vinson VA Equal Employment, Food & Nutrition, Nursing, Pharmacy and Volunteer Services; West Rock Smurfit; Wild Bore Mechanical and YKK.

Additionally, we’d like to thank both TV35 and 13WMAZ for covering today’s exciting event.