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The University of North Georgia (ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½) hosted two days of the Middle School Career Path Fair for the Gainesville City and Hall County school systems from March 13-14.

Seventh-graders and eighth-graders attended a day of sessions at ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½, Brenau University or Lanier Technical College. The goal was to help them learn more about careers before choosing their high school pathways.

In his welcome speech, ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ President Michael Shannon invoked the trial-and-error approach of Thomas Edison in creating light bulbs with a carbon filament. He drew a parallel to the transformative power of higher education.

"College teaches you how to do hard things," Shannon told the middle school students. "Adversity is life's greatest teacher. You will find out who you are when you do hard things."

Lilliana Lazenby, an eighth-grader from North Hall Middle School, was impressed with the variety she found within the agriculture industry from her time at the fair.

"It was fun to see how many different career options there are in one field," Lazenby said.

Natalie Smith, assistant director of federal programs at Gainesville High School, said the Middle School Career Path Fair allows students to see beyond the small number of professions they know about from family and friends. It also exposes them to college campuses.

"These students have not been to a college campus yet. The Career Path Fair gives them a chance to get a taste of what it's like to be on these campuses and helps them envision themselves here," she said. "We are so blessed in this area to have so many postsecondary and business partners who see the value of this event and put in so much work and time. They saw the value and brought really great, interactive sessions for the kids."

Rhonda Samples, Hall County Schools executive director of Career, Technical & Agricultural Education, said the event could serve as a powerful motivator.

"By providing students with the chance to interact with professionals, learn about diverse career options and envision their own futures, these Career Path Fairs create a powerful foundation for personal growth and self-discovery," Samples said. "It's a moment where the students can begin to connect their passions with possibilities, helping to lay the groundwork for the next generation of innovators, leaders and changemakers."

Shelley Logan, a partner at Workforce Strategies Group LLC, said the fair aimed to assist students in a better way than previous generations. It also allowed them to network locally.

"We are giving these students a head-start and a chance to get information," Logan said. "They can also realize they may not want to do what they thought."

Dr. Steven Smith, ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ vice president of regional campuses, said ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ was grateful to host the fair.

"It was an exciting opportunity for local students to explore various career paths, connect with professionals and gain valuable insights that will help guide their future decisions," he said. "We are proud to support and inspire the next generation of leaders, and we were excited to see the students' enthusiasm and curiosity as they engaged with this event."