MHS Career Day gives students a taste of life after school

By B.L. Azure

The Marines are looking for a few good men - and women - to join their elite ranks at MHS Career Day. (B.L. Azure photo)

ST. IGNATIUS — There must be 50 ways to get a job Rob, just hop on the bus Gus, go Mission High Guy, to Career Day Fay. It’ll be okay Ray; it’s only one day Jay. So if you want a job Bob, that pays more than hay May, check out Career Day. But don’t despair Claire because Joe the Plumber wasn’t there. He was paying his back tax Max.

Although Joe the Plumber was noticeably absent several other trades, crafts and professions were well represented at the annual Mission High School Fall Career Day. Those in attendance and giving presentations were there as result of a student career interest survey in September, according to Alan Pule, Gear Up coordinator at Mission High School.

“It links employers in the community to the students,” Pule said. “The students can find out what careers interest them and just as importantly they can find out what doesn’t interest them.”

“We like our students to look at the career options that are available to them,” added Mission High School faculty member Terry Cable. “We like to get them thinking about what is out there after high school earlier than their senior year. If they see something that interests them they can get a head start by taking pertinent classes in high school.”

On the flip side, it gives employers a glimpse of the future employee pool that exists in the St. Ignatius and Mission Valley area.

“The employers panel is always popular,” Pule said. “It gives the students an idea of what they need to know when applying for a job, what they need to know when meeting with an employer and what is expected of them when on the job.”

There were representatives from area two- and four-year learning institutions like the University of Montana, Kicking Horse Job Corps and Salish Kootenai College.

Cable said not all students would be going on to college many will be going to trade schools, the military or straight to work. “We try to address our students needs,” she said. “There are a variety of choices here besides the two- and four-year schools.”

Other vocations represented included military, dental, wildlife biologist, physical therapy, legal, graphic art, photography, trucking, forestry, forensic science, heavy equipment, mechanical, physician assistant, message, firemen, cosmetology, pharmacy, childcare and heavy equipment.

But alas, no Joe the Plumber.