The Columbia County School District (CCSD) recently hosted a two-day pathway fair for eighth graders, aiming to give rising high schoolers an idea of the student organizations – and possible future career paths – that are available to them.
Junior and senior students from different schools in the district ran booths at the CCSD Support Department Complex located at 4395 River Watch Parkway on Jan. 14 and 15 to share information about their pathways and encourage young students to get involved.
Twenty-four pathways were available for students to discover during the fair, including agriculture, culinary arts, business, welding, sports medicine, law enforcement, cosmetology and visual arts.
With seven middle schools, including Columbia Virtual Academy coming out to explore the fair, around 2,200 eighth graders in total had a chance to participate over the two-day period.
“Eighth graders are looking at four more years. Four more years of school is what they have, so we want to make sure that those four years of their high school experience is the experience that’s going to benefit them the most,” said Brooks Smith, CCSD Career and College Readiness Director. “We want to make sure that they’re aware of all the different opportunities that Columbia County School District has for them as a high school student.”
Senior perspectives
Two students operating pathway booths shared their perspectives on the importance of the event.
“I feel like going into high school, I didn’t know what options I had for classes to take, so I just got thrown into something,” said Avery Murray, a senior representing Lakeside High School photography. “So, it’s cool [for the students] to see every opportunity available at their school.”
Senior student Elijah Rodriguez who works with Columbia County Fleet Services echoed Murray’s thoughts.
“I feel like it’s nice for them to have this experience before their [freshman] orientation so they can go ahead and take in some knowledge, go in knowing a little better what they might want to do with their life after high school and in high school,” Rodriguez said.
