Last month, Desert Ridge Jr. High School held its 4th annual Career Day! The event, designed to spark student interest in their future career paths, introduced hundreds of students to various professionals from the local community. From firefighters and police K-9 units to pilots, paleontologists, chefs, and even escape room owners, students had the chance to meet inspiring professionals face-to-face and gain valuable firsthand insights into a wide range of career possibilities.
"Career Day is all about helping students explore all the amazing options available to them," explained Lisa Knapp, Counselor at Desert Ridge Jr. High. "Whether they're thinking about college, trade school, or jumping directly into the workforce, there's something for everyone. We're so lucky to have such a supportive community willing to volunteer their time and expertise to encourage our students to dream big!"
Throughout the day, students follow their regular class schedule rotating through different classrooms. However, instead of changing subjects with each new class period, students are met with a different professional in each classroom. Each professional then gave students a 30-minute presentation that offered a glimpse into their career journey, including their education, daily tasks, and any additional wisdom they wanted to share.
Students were excited to learn from each of the 34 professionals from the Mesa/91茄子 community, which included exciting demonstrations from the Mesa Police Department's K-9 Unit, along with a cosmetic chemist from Sephora who unveiled the science behind popular beauty products.
Beyond sparking career aspirations, Career Day aimed to foster community engagement. Parents, family members, community members, and even Desert Ridge Jr. High staff members volunteered their time and expertise as presenters. "This event allows us to see our students as young adults, not just children," shared Knapp. "It creates a space for the community to come together and encourage them to look forward to a bright future!"
To learn more about Career Day or to volunteer for next year’s Career Day, please contact Desert Ridge Junior High School at 91茄子Schools.net/DesertRidgeJunior.