Career day at Schofield stressed career mapping

When Jackie Barnwell entered then-Schofield High School as a sophomore, she assisted biology teacher Marion Gary after school.

"She became a mentor to me," Barnwell said. "Never could I have imagined then that I would come back this year as the Schofield Middle School principal."

She told that story Wednesday to about two dozen people in business, industry and government, visiting Schofield for career day presentations. The event was coordinated by Career Specialist Helen Richard. The visitors have the chance to assist the students in much the same way Gary helped her, Barnwell said.

"Eleventh grade isn't where this has to begin," she said. "They need to start planning in middle school - what it is they want to do and what direction they should go in. I just appreciate all of you taking out time to be with these kids today. I am dedicated to the boys and girls in this building."

Attorney Everett Chandler agreed that the process has to start in middle school.

"This is the time for them to start thinking about it," he said. "They should get with some people in whatever profession they're interested and start some career mapping. They can talk about classes, what schools they can attend and what major would be best. It can help them get focused."

Longtime photographer Ginny Southworth, a professor in USC Aiken's Department of Visual and Performing Arts, said photography has changed dramatically in the past decade. With the improvement of digital cameras, everybody can take photographs at some level.

"I teach my students that it still takes education to do it," Southworth said. "There are plenty of careers, but they have to readjust where their careers are going. They have to be able to do video and still pictures and work with computers. They're not specializing anymore."

Jobs can evolve during a career in the health field. Sebrina Dukes described how she started at the Medical College of Georgia as a medical technologist. She came to Aiken Regional Medical Centers in 1992 as a generalist in the laboratory. She was promoted to hematology supervisor about seven years ago and earlier this year became the lab's patient support services supervisor.

"I get enjoyment of helping the patients and making sure they get what they need," said Dukes. "When I talk to groups of students, I tell them they have to start now. They have to map out what they need."

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.