Hedgesville High School recently hosted its inaugural career fair, aiming to provide juniors and seniors with insights into various career options available post-graduation. Organized by school counselor Hannah Carl, the event featured 35 organizations, including Berkeley County Schools, Walmart, and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department.
Carl explained her motivation behind the event, expressing a desire to showcase the diverse career opportunities that do not require a college degree. “We are super fortunate to have so many opportunities in our area,” Carl stated. “It’s also great to have so many come out to participate and support our students.”
The event drew an approximate attendance of 550 to 600 students, each given 20 minutes to interact with professional representatives. Carl mentioned that students showed eagerness toward engaging with the professionals, allowing them to explore potential career paths and network.
Among the participants was 11th-grade student Ashlyn Barrick, who is currently seeking employment opportunities. The career fair offered her valuable exposure to different job options and the opportunity to submit job applications. Barrick emphasized the event’s significance, stating, “This event is definitely important, because a lot of kids don’t have the resources to find job opportunities.”
Looking ahead, Carl expressed her intention to make the career fair an annual occurrence, inviting more organizations to participate in future events to further inform and guide students on career possibilities.
