Mineola eighth-graders experienced an educational smorgasbord earlier this month during Career Day at Mineola High School. The students sampled a multitude of academic and occupational classes and learned about the myriad options open to them.

During their final middle school semester, eighth-graders are required to chart a high school graduation plan along established career pathways. These pathways may lead to college, post-high school advanced technical training, or immediate entry into the workforce.

As the day unfolded, eighth-graders went from classroom to classroom, where teaches and older students laid out expectations and offered a taste of what’s to come for the Class of 2024. The 13- and 14-year-olds have a wide array of educational opportunities open to them – everything from cutting edge graphics and information systems, metal fabrication, auto servicing, human anatomy, mechanical engineering, agriculture, physics, art, music, literature, mathematics, robotics and much more.

High School guidance counselor Carol Crowley said of Career Day: “I hope the students gain information about what we have to offer at the high school level and how that ties into how they are preparing for beyond high school.”

Added Crowley: “Our goals for the kids is that once the come up to high school, we want them to graduate on time ready to do something productive.”

Career Day also hosted an evening session so parents, too, could see what the high school offers their children in terms of academics and career training.

“Everything we do we’re trying to sell to the community, but I feel like I work with one of the most valuable assets that these parents have – their children. And I want them to understand that we have some things to offer that are very positive,” said Crowley.