Students seize opportunity to find out more about career fields
Seventh and Eighth graders from Blue Ridge School, Highlands School, and Summit Charter School joined the Boys & Girls Club at Country Club of Sapphire Valley for the annual career conference. Students were mixed together and seated at tables.
The conference started with a keynote speech from Neary Sellers, assistant vice president of Loudermilk Homes. Sellers originally planned to go into the restaurant industry. Sellers said the restaurant industry helped cultivate people skills, but it was time for a change.
Sellers encouraged the students to break their comfort zones, be willing to market themselves, and to be willing to learn new things. Sellers said Loudermilk Homes was a much different career path, but a willingness to try and learn
“Build those soft skills and people skills. Never be embarrassed and always stop to ask questions,” Sellers said. “As long as you’re curious, there’s so much the world can teach you.”
The student groups were then led around the property where they heard pitches from local workers who have served in a variety of careers and roles.
Some of the advice students gleaned related to particular careers. For instance, Sergio Barranco with the Glenville-Cashiers Rescue Squad spoke about the duties and equipment needed, Bobby Botev in the IT field told students how technology can transform their lives, Cody Kessler spoke about graphic design and how education should blend with real applications in an artistic setting, and Stetson Taylor spoke about making a career in the military.
Botev said technology can open pathways and provide extra opportunities, but students must be willing to seek those opportunities and put in work for it.
“If you’re eager to learn, you’ll have opportunities for experience,” Botev said. Technological pathways can be vast and constantly changing, but Botev said they can be rewarding. “There’s no one path to the destination.”
Other speakers, like Jill Katz Siler with Crossroads Custard and Phil Perkins, who retired from a music-driven career, helped equip students with practical life advice. Siler encouraged students to have a good work ethic, have people skills, and to be dependable. Perkins gave students an optimistic outlook, saying they are in their own capable hands.
“Follow your dreams and be encouraged,” Perkins told a group of students. “You are the only person with your particular experiences and skills.”
Additional workers included Nick Pusarich in the turfscaping realm, occupational therapist Jenna Orbeck with the Boys & Girls Club who helped students think through pathways for their future, Dean Pugel who covered culinary arts, Denise Broome who discussed cosmetology, Mills Mosley with Highland Hiker, interior designer Melanie Couch, Allisa Short with Mountain Dog Spa, Dave McCoy from the contracting industry, and physical therapist Angie Tyre.
Around noon, students regrouped and heard from the second keynote speaker, Mary Abranyi, owner of Fusion Yoga and Wellness. Abranyi gave her personal story. She said at times life will be difficult, but she encouraged the students to push through regardless. Things may lie outside their control, but they still have the choice on their attitudes, how they react to situations, and how they interact with others.
“Hard work is so valuable, and so is making choices that will instill a sense of value in your life,” Abranyi said. “Stay positive and work really hard to do good for yourself and the people around you.”