GRAMS Career Day 2000

Career Day 2000

Remember GRAMS

Introduction to Career Day.
George R. Austin Middle School
Friday, May 19, 2000

On May 19, 2000, George R. Austin Middle School had its annual Career Day event from 8:30 - 10:30 AM. Approximately 200 eighth grade students participated in the event, during which students switched three times to hear a variety of different community members who were generous enough to take time out of their busy schedules and talk with the students about their jobs and personal lives, education, experience, etc.

Mr. Mark Gorman, who is a guidance counselor here at GRAMS, speaks with eighth graders in the Commons prior to their first scheduled meeting.

Following Mr. Gorman's opening words in the GRAMS Cafeteria/Commons, students proceeded to three meetings of forty minutes each lasting from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM. Where students went depended upon an Interest Inventory Survey they took in seventh grade, and the results of a separate CD program which also surveyed their likes and abilities.

The Strong Interest Inventory asked students questions as to what their interests were, what they liked and did not like to do, etc. at the time of administration. Also surveyed were various members of different professional fields who were happy in their jobs. The student and professional results were compared to suggest what types of professionals students shared interests with.

The CD inventory, also known as the OOH, was a government-developed program that matched student skills with the skills needed for certain jobs. Then, it produced a list of occupations the students would seemingly be successful at once they were out of college. The government has placed all jobs into thirteen distinct categories, four of which were combined into two separate categories here at GRAMS.

"The only failure one can have in life is not to try."

Steve DeOssie, Former NFL Star
Keynote Speaker, GRAMS Career Day - 1997

Community Members Share Their Experiences

Randy Swann, a Graphic Arts Specialist,
spoke to students in room 808.

Phillips Brady, a Marine Biologist,
spoke to students in room 804.

Brendan Lafferty, an Entertainer,
spoke to students in room 808.

Speakers were assisted by seventh grade members of the GRAMS chapter of the National Junior Honor Society, run by Mrs. Irene Gross, the French teacher here at GRAMS. Seventh graders would refill a speaker's coffee or something along the lines when needed.

Speakers included an EMT, a Child Care Specialist, a Culinary Instructor, a Freetown Police Officer, a Military Rep., a Graphic Arts Specialist, an Entertainer, a Reporter, a CPA, a Securities Rep., a Postmaster, a Physician's Assistant, a Physical Therapist, a Vice President of National Sales, an Electrician, a Builder, an Auto Mechanic, a Marine Biologist, an Animal Careers Rep., an Education Administrator, an Auto Salesman, a Sports Trainer, a speaker of general Science Careers, an Info Systems Specialist, a Software Designer, and a Web Page Designer who preferred to be referred to as a Web Guru.

A Physician, a Repertory Therapist, a Small Business Owner, a Retail Management Specialist, an Attorney, a Gymnastics Specialist, and a Dance Instructor were also scheduled to speak to students, but they were unfortunately unable to attend.

Our special thanks go out to all those who came to speak to our students: Mr. Michael Moriarity, Ms. Diane Hurley, Mr. Steve Miranda, Officer Charles Sullivan, Mr. John Simones, Mr. Randy Swann, Mr. Brendan Lafferty, Ms. Cindy Benard, Ms. Diane Madigan, Mr. Dan Sarmir, Mr. Wayne Jaye, Ms. Allisyn Brady, Ms. Sherry Brown, Mr. Jeff Fisher, Mr. Marc Ashley, Mr. John Smith, Mr. Luke Leonard, Mr. Phillips Brady, Ms. Barbara Vadnais, Dr. Steve Furtado, Mr. Kimber Marchesi, Mr. Joe Scott, Mr. O'Neil Couture, Mr. Craig Machamer, Mr. Gerret Kirkland, and Mr. Casey Thibeault.

Cindy Benard, a Reporter, spoke to students in room 808.

Diane Madigan, a CPA, spoke to students in room 809.

Casey Thibeault, a Web Designer, or, "Web Guru," spoke to students in room 801.

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