On April 12, Lake Oconee Academy (LOA) hosted its annual Career Day, a vibrant event that catered to students from K4 to 12th grade. The event featured a rich diversity of over 40 speakers, spanning a wide spectrum of professions from culinary arts to medical sciences, providing students with comprehensive exposure to various career paths.
LOA believes in creating opportunities for its students to explore all possible career paths. “Our goal is to expose students to various careers and connect what they are learning in school to the world of work to jumpstart their thinking about the future,” said Dr. Bowling.
L to R: William Gay (Smokey the Bear) and his son, Everett Gay.
Students from K4 classes enjoyed meeting First Responders, including Smokey Bear from the US Forest Service, police officers, EMT workers, firefighters, and more. At the same time, the upperclassmen enjoyed hearing from professionals in nursing, pediatric cardiology, research scientists, lawyers, and photographers, to name just a few. The students had a wide array of information leaving from career day, which gave them many opportunities to consider as they contemplated their future. Smokey Bear has a special connection to LOA. He happens to be married to Mrs. Morgan Gay, an ELA teacher. He’s also the father of a proud first grader, Everett Gay, who was beaming with pride as he showed off his special dad, Smokey.
Pictured presenting to students: James Parks, MD., MS. Pediatric Cardiologist, Cardiac Intensivist and Cardiac Radiologist at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Mrs. Virginia Hardwick, a long-term sub for Mrs. McDaniel, shared how impressed she was with author Jess Teal, who spoke to her students about being authors. Ms. Teal asked the students if they had ever made a book. Of the students who raised their hands, a few from each group, Ms. Teal, shook their hands and called each an author. She continued by sharing a book she wrote when she was their age.
“What I liked best about career day was figuring out new things and engaging with everybody,” said one middle school student. “My favorite presentation was photography because it was very unique. I also liked the pediatric cardiologist—it was super cool, but I learned it was not for me,” said another student.
Each year, students and teachers alike look forward to this day, watching the students’ interest being sparked as they learn about all the possibilities for their future.
“We appreciate all the parents, community members, and alumni who donated their time to participate in this year’s career day. Witnessing students apply learning to real life through our speakers’ stories was engaging. Hearing from former students was particularly impactful, and we are so proud of our graduates pursuing their college and career goals,” says Mrs. Erica Seybert, lower school counselor.