REBECCA CARRASCO

ST. JAMES – The question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” was easily answered by students during their sixth annual Fifth Ward Elementary Career Awareness Week, May 7-11. Guidance counselor Cheryl Blanchard, coordinator of the program, said career week is part of the Louisiana-School-to-Work program which involves students in career education. “Every school year, the faculty at Fifth Ward Elementary School reserves one week for career education,” Blanchard explained. “Career education allows students to develop a better understanding of their options.” “They begin to gain insight as to the importance of an educaton when choosing a career,” she said. “It also encourages individual exploration of careers.” Blanchard believes students will be much happier as individuals by having a career because they will doing something for society and themselves. Volunteers from all over St. James Parish talked about their different career choices and students in return was able in some cases to interact while asking questions. As an example, Detective Billy Jordan from the Canine Unit Division from the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office brought his partner, Captain Kilo, an 8-year-old Labrador Retriever, to demonstrate his ability in detecting drugs and aiding the handicapped. “During this week, community members, and representatives from local businesses and industries were encouraged to come into the school to share their knowledge and experience with the students,” Blanchard said. “I try to get the parents to come in because the children know and can relate to them. These presentation allows students to look to others in the community for advice about potential careers.” Blanchard explained she told the presenters to emphasize the need for an education. “The more choices students have, the better they will be in exploring the future.” “The students enjoyed themselves during career week – there was much to see and do,” Blanchard said. “They also became aware that an education is extremely important and the key to more career choices.”