South Harrison Community School Corporation is cultivating a culture of ambition from the earliest years. While at the elementary level, students are not just navigating classrooms; they're embarking on an inspiring journey of career exploration through guest speaker series, innovative career days, passion projects and more.
All these activities serve as building blocks for students to choose a career pathway in high school and one day, upon graduating, pursue an in-demand Indiana job they love. Everything is a process, and it starts as early as third grade.
🌟 Navigating Future Pathways:
In elementary school, students are introduced to careers based on their passions. A fun way Corydon Elementary School teacher Kacie Withers does this in her class is through a year-long unit called “Passion Project”. The goal is to helps students uncover their passions and find careers where they can do what they love every day. Then, once students have identified a career they want to learn more about, Mrs. Withers uses the power of social media and word of mouth to connect each child in her class with individuals of each respective industry.
🏫 Intentional Exploration in 7th and 8th Grade:
Transitioning into the 7th and 8th grades, students at South Harrison are encouraged to explore career clusters with intentionality. This pivotal stage prompts them to delve deeper into their interests, identifying potential pathways that align with their passions and aspirations.
In this "exploring" stage, South Harrison's College & Career Readiness Center organizes several field trips to job sites and local colleges and guest speakers to come talk with classes from a variety of fields. A recent trip included South Central Jr./Sr. High School eighth graders visiting Indiana University Southeast and Ivy Tech Sellersburg to see what opportunities await them after graduation.
🚀 Charting Your Course:
For our South Harrison students, choosing a career pathway is a significant decision made during their freshman year of high school. Here are three guiding questions or steps we like to lead them through to embark on this exciting journey:
Discover Your Passions: We encourage students to reflect on the subjects and activities that captivate their interest. Whether it's creating, problem-solving, or nurturing, understanding their passions lays the groundwork for selecting a pathway that aligns with your interests.
Connect with Professionals: Reaching out to professionals in fields that intrigue them. We tell students to ask questions, seek advice and gain insights into the daily realities of their careers. Firsthand knowledge can be invaluable in shaping their understanding of a particular pathway.
Explore Diverse Options: Embrace the opportunity to explore multiple pathways. Attend workshops, engage in hands-on experiences and participate in internships or shadowing opportunities. This exploration phase is about discovering their strengths and refining their career preferences.
As we foster the aspirations of our students, we take pride in being part of a community that values deliberate career exploration. At South Harrison, the journey begins early, opening doors to a multitude of possibilities. Here's to the young minds shaping their futures, one intentional exploration at a time!