The Delaware Area Career Center recently wrapped up a December career exploration series with Olentangy Berlin Middle School – providing eighth graders from Mrs. Ann Holben’s “Managing Your Future” class with the opportunity to meet current DACC seniors and learn about potential career pathways through engaging hands-on activities.
“Engaging experiences are a vital component of career exploration,” DACC Career Readiness Coordinator Lisa-Marie Reinhart said. “My goal with programs like this is to provide exposure so students can become more knowledgeable to make well-informed decisions about their future.”
Reinhart and Holben worked together to craft a three-part series that would provide engaging experiences for OBMS students. Representatives from DACC came to the class every Wednesday in December to talk about skill-building, career exploration and future educational options.
“We’re trying to get students to think about their future, and think about how school fits into their future plans – and in particular, how it leads to their future job. They all know that they need to go to school and get good grades and learn things, but they don’t always make the connection to a job that they might want to pursue,” Holben said.
“How does math relate to a certain job? Why do I have to study history? We’re looking at how it all connects and how it will help them in the workforce, too. They’re still thinking about where they are right now, in this moment of being in eighth grade, and we’re trying to get them to think beyond that – especially as they look towards high school.”
Six DACC seniors participated in the weekly career exploration sessions, representing labs such as App Development & Programming, Criminal Justice, Digital Design, Engineering: Robotics, Automation & Design, Pharmacy Technician, and Wildlife & Resource Management.
Each senior brought a hands-on artifact from their lab, to engage the students from Mrs. Holben’s class in discussions about future career pathways. They talked with the eighth graders about what their career interests are, what led them to DACC, what kinds of experiences they’ve had through their DACC lab, and what their plans are after graduation.
“That’s what our students really liked,” Holben said. “They loved seeing new faces and they loved working with the high school students.”
DACC is proud to partner with area elementary and middle schools – serving as a resource for learners of all ages, as they consider their interests and explore future career paths.
“This program is one example of how DACC serves as a valuable resource for teachers who are implementing career readiness in their classes,” Reinhart said, “offering support and programs to enhance career awareness, exploration, and career planning.”
