Over 20 Organizations Participate In Central High’s First ‘Connecting Careers Exposé’

ST. CROIX — A wide array of organizations were present for Central High School’s (C.H.S.) first career preparation event dubbed Connecting Careers Exposé. Organized by two of the school’s guidance counselors and held at the school’s gym on Tuesday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., the event was the counselors’ idea of giving students — those who will head directly to the workforce after high school, as well as those who’ll choose to pursue their college education instead — the chance to meet with potential employers while becoming familiar with the assortment of job opportunities available to them.

The event was held specifically for 9th and 10th graders of C.H.S. and St. Croix Educational Complex High School students. “The reason we did it is that we want to pique their interest in what career they may be considering after they graduate from high school,” said Guidance Counselor Kisha Roberts. “In addition to that, some of them already came in with mindsets about one thing, and this may have changed  their mind. Some came in with mindsets not knowing at all what they want to do, and introducing them to these organizations and businesses may have helped enhance whatever path they want to go on.”

The counselors said the event was also part of the school’s exit planning, and served as a guide to help better cater students’ classes to education that better serve their fields of interest.

This year’s exposé was themed STEM, therefore opportunities were based in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, according to Mrs. Roberts. The counselors will focus on other fields for next year’s event, although they haven’t quite decided what they will be.

Among Tuesday’s 22 presenters were ProSolar, Dept. of Health, Williams Chiropractic, the U.S. Marines, the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air National Guard and Limetree Bay.

Counselor Sandra Cannon said C.H.S. usually sees about 35 to 45 percent of its graduates go directly to the workforce. But aside from immediate job opportunities, which would not become available to the 9th and 10th graders years from now anyway, the exposé also served as an opportunity for the students to use their required 100 hours of community service by interning with the businesses that fit their career preferences, according to the counselors.

“It was a multifaceted event, we’re connecting it all up,” Mrs. Roberts said. The counselors summarized the event as “resoundingly successful.” “We’re tired, but it was a labor of love,” Mrs. Roberts added.

The counselors received assistance from the school’s administration, the Dept. of Education, whose officials attended the exposé, as well as the office of Senator Kurt Vialet.

Both counselors highlighted Destiny Stout — who took it upon herself to prepare hors d’oeuvres for guests — as a student who embodies what they were attempting to accomplish. Not only did Ms. Stout, a C.H.S. 10th grader, prepare salt fish and beef pate, lobster salad and conch fritters for guests, as an aspiring chef, she also connected with a catering business that participated in the exposé.

“The presenter came and asked for her number so that she can do stuff for them,” Ms. Cannon said, “and she is going to be helping our caterer do some events. So she connected; she did exactly what the program was about.”