Grantley Adams Memorial Students Explore Diverse Career Opportunities at School's Showcase

By Sheria Brathwaite

From honeycomb to hearse, fishing to firefighting, the world of work that awaits Grantley Adams Memorial students when they leave school was on show for them to explore at a career showcase on Wednesday.

The Blackmans, St Joseph school was transformed into a job expo as several professionals in many fields of work showed off their expertise.

Among those in the showcase were The Barbados Fire Service,The Barbados Police Service, Ministry of Agriculture, a funeral home, Barbados National Union of Fisherfolk Organisation, Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute’s building division and motor vehicle engineering technology department, as well as the Barbados Apiculture Association.

The children got to interact with the professionals and students, took part in live demonstrations and even won participation prizes.

What stood out during the exhibit was the manner in which SJPI students interacted with the secondary school students who were a few years their junior. They carried themselves in a professional manner and, in a relatable way, gave the Grantley Adams students insights into their various assignments for their respective courses. Those students also displayed some impressive woodwork pieces that could rival what is seen in retail stores.

Another highlight of the day was a fish boning and cleaning demonstration from the fisherfolk. The children were taught how to debone and clean dolphin and flying fish and a few brave students donned an apron and scaled the fish.

A large honeycomb was displayed at the beekeeping booth. The mass of hexagonal wax cells wowed the students and teachers and generated a lot of interest.

Guidance counsellor Shauntée Walters who coordinated the event said it was important for the students from forms three to five with some from the junior school to get a sense of the world of work at a young age.

“It’s important for us to ensure that our students are well prepared for life after school and a part of the career showcase is ensuring that the first and third-year students are able to identify particular subjects that they can choose to carry them through the rest of their time here with us and for the students who are in fourth and fifth year, who are going to be starting to think about what it is they want to do, where they want to study next and after they leave school. We want to make sure that they are adequately prepared,” she said.