Students learn about area jobs

About 25 Schofield Middle School boys visited the Bridgestone tire company Friday to learn about the different jobs available at the plant, thanks to the efforts of the school's career specialist, Helen Richard.

She feels driven to provide such field trips and related activities.

"I was studying microbiology in college but began to realize that I was a people person, that I could change lives," Richard said. "Had I had an opportunity like this, I would have chosen something different."

The Schofield students learned about Bridgestone and the thousands of tires the plant near Graniteville makes every day. They also heard about the wide range kinds of jobs available there - engineering, human resources, machine tools, safety coordination, computer specialists, finance staffers and more.

Chris Barden, the process engineering team leader, described the 16 to 22 parts of a tire and how the company strives to give its customers the kinds of tires they want and need.

"Improvement is a big thing with us, and we do that through problem-solving," said Barden. "We keep working to make things better and last longer."

Robert Barber, a group leader, took the Schofield students through each of the positions within his division - from machine technicians to supervisors and group leaders all the way to the operations and plant managers. He explained the experience and education the Schofield students would need to attain each of those jobs.

Unlike cars and other products, Barber said, people are the only asset that can appreciate in value over time.

"It's very important that we do a good job," he said. "And how do you come from middle school to get a good job? You have to commit yourselves to your schoolwork. You have to make good choices."

These kinds of field trips are important, Barber said, so that young teenagers can begin to identify the kinds of careers they might have a passion for.

"But we don't end it here," he said in an interview. "We get involved in the community because some of our young kids aren't getting it from a home standpoint. So we have to look at other avenues to engage them and understand what the opportunities are and what they need to do to get them."

Eighth-grader Tyler Bostwick said he didn't realize that a company like Bridgestone would have such a variety of jobs. He was impressed with the kind of work that Barden does and liked the idea of becoming a civil engineer.

Barden considers himself blessed to get a job he loves so close to home. A 1993 Midland Valley High School graduate, he attended the University of South Carolina. He graduated just as Bridgestone was opening its new plant and soon joined the company.

"We love interacting with the kids like this because that focus can pay off for them," Barden said. "It's important for them to think about the directions they want to go in."

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.