Diane Peltz – Contributing Writer
Career Day evokes a variety of emotions in students from excitement to astonishment to confusion and South Macon Elementary School’s annual Career Day did just that. Students in all grade levels were able to walk around each station to ask questions and view and participate in displays. Career Day is a way to get to know about the different careers and jobs that are available in the community.
Students from each class were given questions to ask. They rotated around to each table and also went outside to see the Otto Fire Department and the Emergency Services personnel and answering questions about what it’s like to work in that field.
Franklin High School (FHS) Carpentry/Automotive and Welding along with Agriculture and Future Farmers of America were represented. The FHS Yearbook team addressed Communications, Photography and Graphic Design. Future Business Leaders of America students and Food Science also had displays.
The Dean of Public Safety Instruction at Southwestern Community College Curtis Dowdle spoke to the students about possible careers in the many branches of law enforcement. Carolina Bank’s Kathy Greenwood and Shannon McConnell and State Employees Credit Union’s Rachel Bishop had displays that assisted in education the students about the banking system.
Drake Software’s Eric Rogers briefed the students on the aspects of proper customer service skills. The Macon County News and Helen Westman both teamed up to discuss the intricate workings of a newspaper. Westman had worked as a graphic design artist for a newspaper in Virginia and displayed a well-stocked portfolio for the children to admire. The children learned that through art, graphic designers create a message for their customers. Many of the children wore graphic T-shirts to which Westman pointed out, that a graphic design artist created each logo or design on those shirts. Each child was given a bookmark that explained the 5Ws (who, what, why, when, where) of writing and designing.
Angel Medical Center surgical nurses, Sherri Bishop and Peggy Ramey along with emergency room and hospice nurse Courtney Taylor, displayed a plethora of medical devices used in hospitals and ERs. Students walked away with the same hair nets and face masks that are used by medical staff to decrease the spread of germs. Students were also able to touch and learn about some medical instruments typically used to examine patients.
