Ninth-grade students took part in Career Jam™ Explore—an enriching, hands-on experience designed to introduce them to a variety of career pathways and local businesses. During the event, hosted at TEC-SMART in Malta, students rotated through career stations hosted by professionals from a wide range of industries, giving them the chance to ask questions, explore their interests, and gain a glimpse into real-world careers.
Prior to the event, each student completed a survey that matched their skills and interests with recommended career clusters to explore.
“The Capital Region offers an abundance of opportunities for students,” said Aarika Van Amburgh, Career Jam’s Executive Director. “We can expose not just students, but their teachers too—and hopefully they’ll go back and talk to their families about the opportunities right here in our region.”
Van Amburgh noted that ninth grade is an ideal time for students to begin connecting their interests to possible futures.
“That’s exactly why we offer Career Jam to eighth and ninth graders,” she explained. “Some of these students are already making choices that shape their high school experience. We hope Career Jam sparks new interests and helps them make informed decisions as they move forward.”