Nose for News by Sarah Stultz

 

Last week I had the chance to speak to a class of eighth graders at Albert Lea High School as part of an ongoing effort to teach Albert Lea students about various careers in the community.

I applaud everyone who has helped make these educational opportunities available for the students to help them begin exploring what they would like to do when they’re done with high school.

I would have loved to learn about various careers like this when I was in school and think it would be very beneficial to talk firsthand with people in different fields.

When I went around the circle of students I talked to, most of the students said they knew what they wanted to do when they grew up — or at least they thought they did.

I heard answers ranging from construction and electrician work to farming and nursing.

It’s awesome if the students really know what they want to be when they grow up and follow through with those goals, but the likelihood is that they will change their minds multiple times in the future.

Many adults even end up changing their career paths over time, and that’s OK as interests and circumstances change.

As I told the students, when I was in high school, I knew that I liked to write and I did well in my English classes, but I knew that teaching didn’t appeal to me.

As I thought more about what I could do with my talents,  I thought about becoming a journalist and moved forward with that, hoping I could have a positive influence for good by doing so.

I can’t say I knew my whole high school career that I wanted to go to school to become a journalist; in fact, I probably didn’t come to that realization until the last year or two.

To the students who are still undecided — and even the students who think they know what they want to do — take the time to learn about any career you might have an interest in now before you graduate. Maybe it will reaffirm your thoughts that you’ve found a career, or maybe it will be an eye-opener that maybe it wasn’t quite what you thought.

Our community has many interested and willing business professionals who would allow students to job shadow at their workplace or who at the very least would answer questions about their day-to-day tasks.

As you go about making your decision about what to do with your life after high school, remember there are many opportunities for jobs at all levels in the community. Some jobs require four-year degrees or higher, while some only need a two-year degree or some type of certificate program. It’s also important to note that some of those two-year degree careers can make more money than some of the careers you can have with a four-year degree.

Also, don’t forget during this process that your community would love to have you back here in Albert Lea after you’re done with school — or even while you’re going to school if you choose to attend Riverland Community College. There are many jobs that are and will be available to you as more and more Baby Boomers retire in the coming years.

Sarah Stultz is the managing editor of the Tribune. Her column appears every Tuesday.