College makes a difference, men tell boys
Middle school apparently is not too soon to start thinking about college.
Members of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) at Olive Peirce Middle School organized an event that gave students an opportunity to hear what college meant to the careers of a group of professional men.
The invitation-only Men’s Career Expo was for male students at OPMS with a grade point average of 3.0 or better and a citizenship standing of “satisfactory” and above.
According to eighth-grader and committee chair Jordan Narramore, the students have been planning the event since the beginning of the school year.
“It’s a program to get the kids focused on college,” said teacher Pixie Sulser, who with teacher Ingrid Forbes advises the NJHS at the middle school. “We have a similar event for the young ladies in the spring as well. Presenters talk about how a college education gives them options and opportunities they might not otherwise consider.”
Eleven stations offered 15-minute talks about various careers. From being a professional chef to a fighter pilot, the options offered to the students promised intriguing choices to the graduate-bound.
Journalist David Ward writes about gaming trends for the Hollywood Reporter.
“The coolest thing,” said Ward, “is that I get to learn about things before anyone else hears about them.”
Retired police chief Randy Narramore explained the benefit of a college education over job-seeking competitors without one.
“When I applied to the police department, there were 550 applicants,” he said. “Only five of us were hired. I know I got the job because I had been to college.”
A college education, it seems, does make a difference.
Taking time to talk with the students about their careers were Jeremy Manley, professional chef, Jeremy’s on the Hill; program manager John Wandke; Terry Flynn, former Mayor of La Mesa; Paul Hubbard business owner/Plum Healthcare; attorney Hernan Certina; Gene Villagrana, consultant for 7-11 Corporation; Officer Raymond Silva with the San Diego Police Department; David Ward, journalist; Bill Koegel, manager; Randy Narramore, retired police chief/detective); and U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Gayles.