Approximately 275 eighth and ninth grade students from the Roanoke Rapids Schools 8th/9th Grade Transition Academy participated in Windows to Your Future, a job site career visit experience during the spring of 2009. Patsy Ferguson, Roanoke Valley Chamber Business Education Coordinator, and Tammie Williams, director of the academy, coordinated these career experiences with local Valley businesses. 

Students learn about cosmetology at Halifax Community College. Contributed Photo | Daily Herald Advertisement

The academy wanted to provide learning that would give students an early look into what requirements, job responsibilities, courses required, and other workplace skills are needed for careers in the area. Students were asked to fill out an interest survey of possible careers they would be considering in their futures. The tallies of the surveys directed the career visits.  Local businesses that were visited included First Media Radio/TV, Flambeau Industries, Halifax Regional Medical Center, Halifax Community College Cosmetology, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn and Halifax Agricultural Center. The trips were interest based so that each week two or three trips were taken to the various career sites. Students saw what is required to be a radio or TV host, and some even became disc jockeys for a few minutes.  At Flambeau Industries students learned what various job possibilities are there and watched the machines and employees at work. Halifax Regional Medical Center provided an hour session with various hospital employees telling of their responsibilities and the educational requirements necessary for their jobs, and then an hour tour of behind the scenes work at the hospital was given. The Halifax Community College Cosmetology Department allowed the students to work with HCC students in hands-on experiences with cutting, dying, curling, straightening hair and giving facials. The Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton Inn showed students opportunities available in hospitality, and they received a tour of each establishment. The Halifax Agricultural Center provided the students with an information session on diverse agricultural- related jobs in Halifax County. 

Students were very engaged in these site visits and excited about their future possibilities. This Windows to Your Future experience will continue into the fall for the rising 9th grade students and the upcoming 8th grade students.