FORT BELVOIR Va. - Fort Belvoir Elementary school conducted its 13th annual Career Fair April 28 with more than 40 career fields represented.
Careers ranged from microbiologist, engineer, and technical support specialist to race car driver, musician, and photographer.
The students were separated into two different groups - one for children in kindergarten through second grade; and the other for youth in third through sixth grade.
The younger group primarily visited with fireman, helicopter pilots, students' parents and school visitors, while the older children met with speakers who represented careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
"We want the children to understand what we are teaching them from kindergarten through sixth grade - the math, the science and social studies - all of that kind of culminates into a career," said Joyce Matthews, school-based technology specialist. "What we want to show them is that math, science, technology and engineering is in everything we do. We want to give them that sense of this is why we do what we do."
Isabella Stobie, a third-grade student, said she has been sketching and drawing pictures ever since she learned about art. Stobie took advantage of the opportunity to learn how she can achieve a career in art.
"The lady I talked to told me she took a lot of classes in college," said Stobie. "She told me there are all kinds of art, and that some artists design wrappers for food and they get paid for that. She said she does art almost everyday so it was really cool listening to her."
Matthews also felt the fair gave the students some insight on some of the issues individuals in the working world are dealing with daily.
"The job market is changing dramatically and we also know that the United States is not very high in science, technology and mathematics," said Matthews. "So, we're trying to find ways to motivate kids to get them to think about how they can maybe create their own jobs and their own careers utilizing science, technology, and mathematics."
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