Career Exploration Fair Inspires Thousands of Freshmen

There was an indescribable energy that buzzed through the Music City Center on Oct. 27, as more than 6,400 eager Metro Public Schools freshmen attended the "My Future. My Way." Career Exploration Fair. Students, from both MNPS and area charters, flocked to witness the many career opportunities their futures might hold - exploring everything from being a public servant to working in a Fortune 500 company.

Oh, the possibilities! One could be an engineer for Nashville Electric Service, an emergency medical nurse at St. Thomas, or a professor at Volunteer State Community College paying it forward for the next generation. Thanks to hundreds of participating businesses and volunteers, a great variety of occupations was represented at this year’s highly anticipated event.

Several exhibitors brought interactive gadgets, Skype interviews and work mobiles, allowing students to truly experience “a day in the life.” The career fair represents a crucial experiential learning experience for students, as well as a time for businesses to pull out all the stops and to engage and attract the impressionable youngsters.

The career fair is designed to jumpstart students' curiosity and enthusiasm for choosing a future career path. Within the next few weeks, this group of Centennials will be preparing to choose which of the Academies of Nashville’s 42 small learning communities within Metro’s 12 zoned high schools best fits them. Composed of five key career paths, the Academies consist of rigorous curricula that emphasize college and career readiness, focus on career exploration and internships, and give students an opportunity to obtain industry certifications which can give them a competitive edge in the job market post-graduation.

“If our region is to continue along its path of strong growth, we need to reach out to young people and let them know that viable college and career paths are waiting for them,” said Nashville Chamber CEO Ralph Schulz. The intent of the "My Future. My Way" Career Exploration Fair is to do just that.

A lot of preparation and hard work goes into making the career fair a success every year. This event would be impossible without the generosity of our sponsors. We would like to extend a special thank you to this year’s presenting sponsor, Shoney’s, as well as participating sponsors Volunteer State Community College, Nashville Electric Service, Clopay Plastics and HST Interior Elements. Thank you to all business partners and event exhibitors, MNPS for the hard work of its staff, and our many volunteers, for another fantastic year. David Davoudpour, CEO of Shoney’s, said it best: “The kids are our future, and we must nurture and develop that curiosity and talent.”