December 1, 2016 –
U.S. Army Central hosted six Furman Middle School students as part of career day Nov. 30, at Patton Hall.
Career Day is part of the Sumter School District and Chamber of Commerce student career forums and tours for area middle and high schools. The event is designed to give students a healthy perspective for future job options through interaction with career professionals.
USARCENT Soldiers discussed the importance of education, motivation, and attitude as students and potential employees in the workforce.
Maj. Angel Jackson, U.S. Army Central public affairs community and media relations officer, said she was impressed by the students’ career goals.
“I love that so many of these students are passionate at such a young age about what they want to do in their adult lives,” said Jackson. “A little motivation goes a long way to being your definition of successful in life.”
Students had the opportunity to find out what encouraged Soldiers from many backgrounds and job specialties to join the military and learn more about each Soldiers’ path to their profession.
Furman Middle School student Kaniya Davis, who is interested in becoming a nurse, said Jackson’s explanation of the many jobs in the military piqued her interest in possibly becoming an Army nurse.
“I just thought it was a great idea at this age to get an open mind about how many jobs you can do on the outside, you can also do in (the Army),” said Davis. She added that learning about the other career fields was helpful in understanding what it takes to secure the many jobs available in the military.
Edwin Meeker, Furman Middle School guidance counselor, said having career day for the eighth graders is highly beneficial for the students. He added visiting USARCENT gave insight to the many military jobs that are very similar to civilian jobs.
“They may have just known before coming here certain things like infantry, but they could see the wide variety of jobs here,” said Meeker. “I just appreciate how you opened the doors very welcomingly, and we got to see so many different classifications of different jobs in the military, both enlisted and officer.”
Student Katerra Fordham, who wants to join the Marines, said she now knows she has work to do to prepare for the job.
“I know I need basic training because the officer I was talking to, he told me that for the Marines you have to be tough and fit,” said Fordham. “I’m just working on my body.”
Jackson explained the importance of lifelong learning, good financial habits, and taking advantage of opportunities in school and in life to the students. She added she enjoyed being able to interact with the students and saw it as an opportunity to pass along the attention she received in grade school.
"I had people in my corner as early as middle school and didn’t realize it until I was an adult,” said Jackson. “People saw potential in me that I didn’t see in myself and the best way to say thank you to those people is to pay it forward.