Over 500 fifth graders from Wayne County Public Schools (WCPS) spent the day at Wayne Community College on Friday, Oct. 24, forming more ideas about what they want to be when they grow up.
WCC and WCPS hosted their inaugural “Careers on Wheels” event on WCC’s campus, encouraging students to consider their futures as they explored trade pathways and career opportunities.
Representatives from various industries attended the event, such as law enforcement, forestry, emergency medical services, firefighting, funeral services, construction, and agriculture. Several WCC academic programs offered information to the students, showing them how college-credit courses and short-term training can prepare them to find employment in their chosen field.
Students connected with potential future employers and educators, interacting with tools and equipment and getting an up-close look at what each industry involves.
Morgan Powers, school counselor at Greenwood Middle School, said they appreciate being invited to career exploration events. “The goal of public school is to get students college and career ready, so for the kids to be able to see the different opportunities in the community, and even farther out of the community, is a good benefit for them,” she said.
Powers believes it is important for her students to visualize and learn about the careers they may pursue later in life. “It gets their curiosity going,” she said. “It’s really fun to watch them be inquisitive and ask good questions.”
WCPS Career Development Coordinator and District Credential Coordinator Jessica Caver explained that career exploration at an early age is essential because it helps students connect what they are learning in the classroom to the real world.
“By introducing fifth graders to different careers early on, we spark curiosity and show them that their interests and strengths can lead to meaningful futures. WCPS aims to combine education with career exploration through events like Careers on Wheels, where students can engage directly with community professionals, ask questions, and begin imagining the many possibilities ahead of them,” said Caver.
Robert Sharpe, a Drug and Alcohol Impaired Driving (DAID) specialist with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, attended “Careers on Wheels” alongside law enforcement officers to teach children more about careers in public safety. “We try to put everything in terms they understand,” he shared.
“For career days like this, we explain a little bit about what we do, how our instruments work, and what our processes are,” Sharpe said. “I think the more the students see, the more it helps them develop an interest in how they could get a certain job. Seeing different careers is helpful.”
WCC Employer and School Engagement Coordinator Kaitlyn Dean said the event was a huge success, and she is looking forward to including more students and employers at next year’s event. “By having conversations with our local partners, WCC can reach a different group of students and educate them about how the College can help them reach their future goals,” Dean said.
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves around 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 150 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.