Students explore marine careers

Students from John C Thomas Middle School had a career exploration opportunity on Friday Dec. 5. at the Clatsop Community College campus in Astoria. Tina Merz, teacher of the Career Exploration class, took fourteen students to learn about the potential of maritime career training.

Students were given a tour of the campus as they learned about careers related to seafarers, vessel operations, and other maritime opportunities. Students gained an understanding of what it takes to get certified and how they can take higher education courses close to home. In addition, students learned about fire safety training, auto mechanics, small engines, and welding programs.

Mrs. Merz was inspired by students’ connection with career themes as they realized that career preparation was at their fingertips and close to home. “A benefit from these field trips is that kids often do not know the resources are there and that we have the capabilities just an hour from our hometown. The opportunity to get certified in 12-24 months after graduating and get a really good paying job seems obtainable.”

John Doolin, a cargo boat captain and Cathlamet resident, completed his training there and shared his experience with the students on becoming a chief engineer on a cargo delivery company. “Realizing the outside opportunities that are out there and relevant to our neighborhood was eye-opening to students,” shared Merz. “When people from their field are able to connect with students and share passions it makes an impact.”

This is the second field trip Merz has taken in her Career Exploration class. In October, students took a ride on the Puget Island ferry, learning about its systems and observing how Captain Eric Ferguson operates the vessel. They met the deckhands and explored the ferry’s operating system en route to Westport. On the Oregon side, the group enjoyed lunch at the Berry Patch and learned about culinary arts, baking, and entrepreneurial opportunities in the restaurant industry.

Students will take the knowledge they have acquired on this trip and use it as they continue to explore careers of interest. In the classroom, they will create research projects based on careers they identify with and then develop power points and presentations based on what they discover. The new Career Exploration class is a designated Career and Technical Education (CTE) course at the middle school. The CTE model breaks careers into sixteen clusters and pathways: agriculture, construction, arts, business management, education, finance, health science, government administration, hospitality, human services, information technology, public safety, manufacturing, marketing, transportation, and STEM.

The next opportunity to explore careers will be with a field trip to Lower Columbia College to learn about the opportunities in education and automotive programs. LCC has a new CTE education training program in addition to the Bachelor of Science in Teachers Education program.

These trips are funded by the Career Connects Grant through the Washington State University Extension Agency in Wahkiakum County. The 4H liaison, Jessica Vik, works tirelessly to put together meaningful programs to enhance the learning program opportunities in our school district.