Career Day at Iron Horse Middle School

Fire, police, secret service, chocolatier, physical therapist, photojournalist, technologist, dancer, musician – these were among the many professions represented today at Iron Horses Middle School’s 13th annual career day Tuesday. 

All was abuzz with opportunity and possibility as eighth-grade students filed in to classrooms, the media center and the multipurpose room to hear from professionals that are working in jobs that they may one day have themselves. 

Although given the rapid progression of technology, there are jobs that these eighth-graders will be doing that don’t even exist yet.

Speakers addressed students in a variety of areas. They presented how they use what they learned in school in their career. They spoke about what pivotal experiences they had in their youth that guided them to their career; and what qualities, interests and talents are required for their line of work. 

The students found out how many years of college or technical school are required for their career and what the presenter enjoys most about their line of work. In order for the students to understand the breadth of a particular career, they were told about other related careers which require similar expertise to the presenter’s and which other careers the speaker most commonly works with. 

Mona Keady, owner of in San Ramon, knew the students would be interested in her confections. But she was pleased with all their questions about her job and what goes in to making her creations.

The audience size for each session was limited to 25 students, so each pupil got an opportunity to interact with a speaker.

Approximately 40 different careers were represented and the entire eighth grade class took the morning off from their regular schoolwork to attend. 

Jason Judkins, a senior technician for TeamLogic IT, told his audience how he became interested in his current line of work and how he started out as a geek with a lower case ‘g’ and blossomed into a Geek with an upper case ‘G’. 

Judkins used an interactive approach of questions and answers with each participating student given an opportunity to receive a gift card at the conclusion.  Moshe, one of the students, said he already knows technology is the field he wants to study and that today’s presentation gave him further interest in his goal.

Cathy Carle and Jenny Benz, counselors at Iron Horse, organized the activity and said they already look forward to next year’s career day.