By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
It’s never too soon to begin looking ahead.
In an effort to re-emphasize the importance of that life lesson, Union City Middle School 8th graders attended the Pathways2Possibilities Expo in Brownsville earlier this spring.
Pathways2Possibilities (P2P) began as a hands-on, interactive career expo for all 8th graders in West Tennessee. This year, UCMS 8th graders – along with more than 3,000 students from Northwest Tennessee – participated in the program.
To better prepare middle schoolers for high school and beyond, 8th-grade Career Explorations teacher Rhonda Clendenin has spent this year introducing students to discovering their personal strengths and abilities, understanding opportunities available to them in different career areas, and practicing skills necessary to excel in the workforce and in postsecondary learning.
Students have learned about existing CTE pathways and elective focus options as they approach high school. The exposure was a great opportunity for students to take the first steps in planning for their futures, according to many of those who participated in the tour.
As UCMS students toured the Brownsville premises, they were afforded the opportunity to explore the following career options:
- aerospace agriculture
- food & natural resources
- architecture & construction arts
- av technology & communications
- business management & administration
There were also opportunities to learn about education & training, energy, engineering & polymer science, finance, and government & public administration.
There was information, too, on health science, hospitality & tourism, human services, information technology, law, public safety, corrections & security, manufacturing, marketing, and transportation.
Inquisitive UCMS students had the following reactions after the experience:
“I liked that the people at each booth not only described their job but gave hands-on experience such as getting to do CPR,” Marissa Nance claimed.
John Matt Morgan said: “I spoke with a FedEx pilot, and he told me about serving in the military and flying an F-15.”
“I like that in the Health Career section, when you asked a question, the health care workers explained it on my level, in great detail, and allowed us to have hands-on instructions such as CPR,” Phoebe Coleman stated.
UCMS Principal Lance Morgan chaperoned the trip, along with numerous 8th-grade teachers and high school counselors.
A couple of weeks later, UCMS 8th graders had a tour day at the high school.
Mrs. Clendenin coordinated the tour with Union City High School Career Counselor Lisa Carson. Students walked the UCHS facilities and were given an overview of the procedures and policies in the high school setting.
The experience preceded Freshman Orientation Night at UC High School.